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Pathology of the choroid plexus in spontaneous immune complex disease and chronic viral infections

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Summary

Using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, deposits of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the third complement component (C3) are found in the choroid plexus of mice with spontaneous immune complex disease, in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). (NZB × W) F1 mice develop antibodies to nuclear antigen (ANA) and DNA (ADNA) and are an animal model of human SLE. Enhancement of ANA and ADNA responses by immunization with DNA leads to accelerated and more severe involvement of the choroid plexus accompanied by leukocytic infiltrates. Mice infected in utero or at birth with LCM virus harbor the virus throughout life and continuously produce antibodies. Virus and antiviral antibody(s) combine in the serum and form immune complexes that are trapped in renal glomeruli and choroid plexus. In contrast, mice chronically infected with scrapie fail to show immunoglobulin deposits in choroid plexus and brain despite clinical and pathological evidence of severe scrapie encephalopathy. The findings indicate that the choroid plexus is a favored site for the trapping of immune complexes and may be damaged during immune complex disease. Choroid plexus injury could lead to spinal fluid changes that may be responsible in part for neurologic and psychiatric disturbances seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic and acute viral infections and other disorders associated with circulating antigen-antibody complexes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego

    Peter W. Lampert & Michael B. A. Oldstone

  2. Department of Experimental Pathology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California

    Peter W. Lampert & Michael B. A. Oldstone

Authors
  1. Peter W. Lampert
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  2. Michael B. A. Oldstone
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Additional information

This is publication No. 800 of the Department of Experimental Pathology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California; supported by U.S. Public Health grants NS-09053, AI-07007, AI-09484, PHS Career Development Award AI-42580 and the Violet June Kertell Memorial Grant for Research on Multiple Sclerosis from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The authors thank Dr. F. J. Dixon for providing the NZ mice used in this study and for his suggestions throughout these experiments.

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Lampert, P.W., Oldstone, M.B.A. Pathology of the choroid plexus in spontaneous immune complex disease and chronic viral infections. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 363, 21–32 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432202

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432202

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