Re-establishing tolerance to DNA in humanized and murine models of SLE

DNA-specific B cells in SLE represent a logical target for therapeutic intervention. We hypothesize that it is possible to re-establish tolerance to native DNA in SCID mice with cells transferred from SLE patients or from lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice by administering chimeric molecules, containing a monoclonal antibody against inhibitory B cell receptors coupled to a peptide that antigenically mimics DNA. These protein-engineered molecules are able to co-crosslink selectively the antigen receptors of B cells possessing anti-native DNA specificity with the inhibitory surface receptors, thus delivering a strong suppressive signal.