Genomic organization and expression of B and T cell antigen receptor genes in murine lupus.

Studies with genomic DNAs of lupus mice and monoclonal autoantibodies suggest that autoantibody expression does not result from defects in immunoglobulin germline genes nor in mechanisms generating antibody repertoires. Genomic and expression abnormalities of T cell antigen receptor genes have been identified in lupus mice, but their possible contribution to disease manifestations remains to be established.