Genetic dissection of Sle2 contribution to SLE pathogenesis

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this proposal is to identify the genes responsible for the Sle2 lupus-associated phenotypes in the NZM2410 murine model, and to characterize the mechanisms by which these genes contribute to lupus pathogenesis. Consequently, Sle2, a genetic locus that affects B cell development and function, plays a major role in autoimmune pathogenesis. We have recently identify three independent Sle2 regions, Sle2a, Sle2b, and Sle2c, that affect the size of the B-1a cell pool, but only two of them, Sle2a and Sle2b contribute to autoimmune pathogenesis. Sle2 affects the number of perC B-1a cells through multiple mechanisms, which could be mediated independently through each of the three Sle2 loci. Finally, our long-time collaborator Dr. Chandra Mohan (UTSW) has shown that Sle2 mediates a breach of tolerance using the 56R anti-DNA heavy chain transgenic model. Based on these recent results and on the strategy that we have been using to characterize the Sle1 genes, we propose the three following aims to identify the Sle2 genes: 1. To generate high resolution genetic maps of the Sle2a, Sle2b, and Sle2c loci. We will produce B6.Sle2 congenic recombinant sub-strains and screen them for increased perC B-1a cell pool. This process will be iterated until each locus has been mapped to a < 0.5 cM critical interval. In addition, we will monitor the co- segregation of the B-1a phenotype with the contribution to lupus pathogenesis using an interaction mapping approach between each of the Sle2 loci with other SLE susceptibility loci. 2. To characterize the phenotypes associated with each of the 3 Sle2 loci. Concurrent with the genetic mapping effort, we will refine the phenotypic definition of each Sle2 locus. This aim has the dual goal of elucidating the mechanisms by which these loci contribute to disease mechanisms, and facilitating the selection of candidate genes for Aim 3. To accomplish this goal, we will 1) assign each of the mechanisms by which Sle2 increases the B-1a cell pool to specific Sle2 loci, 2) compare the gene expression profile of perC B-1a cells expressing each Sle2 locus, and 3) determine which of the three Sle2 loci is responsible for the loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens using the 56R model. 3. To identify the genes corresponding to Sle2a, Sle2b, and Sle2c. Aims 1 and 2 will provide a list of positional and functional candidate genes for each of the Sle2 loci. Sequence and expression polymorphisms between the B6 and the B6.Sle2 congenic strains will be systematically characterized for these genes. The functionality of these polymorphisms relative to B cell functions will be then evaluated between the congenic strains. Congruity between the presence of a functional polymorphism and location within the critical interval will provide strong evidence that the NZM2410 allele of this specific gene is responsible for the corresponding SLE susceptibility phenotype.