V Gene Analysis of Anticardiolipin Antibodies from MRL-lpr/lpr Mice

We analyzed the VH and V kappa genes of 14 hybridomas producing anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) from MRL-lpr/lpr mice, in an attempt to address the question of whether aCL are generated by Ag-driven stimulation or by polyclonal B cell activation. Five of six aCL from one mouse and both aCL from the other mouse carried 98 to 100% homologous VH and V kappa genes, respectively, thereby indicating that aCL were derived from the oligoclonal B cell precursor in that individual mouse. Of nine clones, six (67%) used the VH gene of the J558 family, and three (43%) of seven clones used the V kappa gene of the V kappa 23 group. Three to five somatic mutations were detected in all VH and V kappa genes of the examined aCL. These results suggest the possibility that usage of VH/V kappa genes in aCL is not random and that aCL consist of somatically mutated Ig genes.