This work was supported in part by the Lupus Research Institute, NCI grant CA138617, NIDDK grant DK090978, Charlotte Schmidlapp Award (to E.M.J.), and the Albert J. Ryan Fellowship (to J.K.). We are grateful for the support and instrumentation provided by the Research Flow Cytometry Core in the Division of Rheumatology at Cincinnati Children&#8217;s Hospital Medical Center, supported in part by NIH AR-47363, NIH DK78392 and NIH DK90971.

Animal work was performed under specific pathogen-free conditions in accordance with guidelines set by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International and our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
NOTE: Incorporate mice expressing a congenic marker such as CD45.1 on either donor or recipient animals if possible, because this allows for the monitoring of donor graft efficiency and specific expansion of the donor CD4 T cell population. If c...

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The bm12 inducible model is a relatively easy and efficient way to study the cellular and molecular processes of SLE. Chronic activation of adoptively transferred CD4 T cells directed against self antigens leads to the accumulation of Tfh, GC B cells, and plasma cells which can be measured by flow cytometry, as described here. Future studies using this model can quickly and easily interrogate the role of candidate genes and novel therapies in the autoimmune germinal center processes which resemble those occurring in pati...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized prototypically by anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) production and glomerulonephritis. Numerous other sequelae, including dermal, cardio-pulmonary, and hepatic lesions are associated with disease in some individuals. Prevalence estimates in the US vary widely, from 150,000-1,500,0001,2, with particularly high incidence in women and minorities3. Although the etiology of SLE has been difficult to discern, it is thought to arise from the interplay of various genetic and environmental factors, which culminate in systemic autoimmunity.
Numerous animal models have been employed to study factors leading to disease onset and progression. Classic mouse models of SLE include genetically predisposed mouse strains including the NZB x NZW F1 model and its NZM derivatives, the MLR/lpr strain, and the BXSB/Yaa strain, and inducible systems, such as the pristane and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) models4. Early reports of autoantibody production in GVHD models used various mouse strains or hamster strains for parent into F1 transfers5&#8211;8; more common methods used to study lupus-like disease currently include the DBA/2 parent&#8594;(C57BL/6 x DBA/2) F1, and the bm12 transfer model described here. Each model has its own caveats, but they generally share a common set of features that correlate with clinical features of human disease. The most often reported parameters in mouse models include splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, nephritis, ANA production, and at the cellular level, the expansion of T follicular helper cells (Tfh), germinal center (GC) B cells, and plasma cells.
The inducible bm12 model is achieved by the adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from I-Abm12B6(C)-H2-Ab1bm12/KhEgJ (bm12) mice, a strain identical to C57BL/6 except for 3 amino acid substitutions on MHC class II, into I-Ab C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Alloactivation of donor CD4 T cells by recipient APCs leads to cGVHD with symptoms closely resembling SLE. Specifically, these include expansion of donor-derived Tfh, expansion of recipient-derived GC B cells and plasma cells, and production of ANAs including anti-dsDNA, anti-ssDNA, anti-chromatin, and anti-RBC antibodies9. Over time, recipient mice develop glomerulonephritis associated with IgG deposits in the glomerular, interstitial, and vascular regions of the kidneys10. We have recently shown that, similar to human disease, there is also a critical role for type I IFN in this model11. Notably, the defining criteria for human SLE include the development of nephritis compatible with SLE in the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies12, both of which are prominent features of this mouse model.
There are several advantages of the bm12 model over the spontaneous models. Classic models that develop SLE-like signs spontaneously rely upon either hybrid mouse strains, inbred mouse strains not on the B6 background, or large genetic loci on the B6 background, which make crossing to knockout or otherwise genetically modified mice difficult and time consuming. With the bm12 inducible model, genetically modified mice can serve as either the donor or recipient, allowing more rapid identification of the cellular compartment in which particular genes may be important for disease. Furthermore, disease development in the bm12 model is much faster, requiring only 2 weeks until the appearance of ANAs, compared to several months for most spontaneous models. Moreover, in contrast to the spontaneous models that develop disease at different time points, the disease onset and progression in the bm12&#8594;B6 model is highly synchronized. This allows for the generation of appropriately sized cohorts that can be used for interventional or therapeutic strategies at any stage of disease development.
What follows is a detailed protocol for initiating SLE-like autoimmunity by the adoptive transfer of bm12 lymphocytes into C57BL/6 mice, or genetic variants on the B6 background. Additionally, we describe a flow cytometric staining protocol for enumerating Tfh, GC B cells, and plasma cells&#8212;cell types associated with human disease. Importantly, these protocols can also be used to characterize disease in most mouse models of SLE and identify Tfh, GC B cells and plasma cells in other disease models.

<table border="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>B6.SJL-Ptprca Pepcb/BoyJ</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>001162</td>
			<td>CD45.1+ BoyJ mouse strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B6(C)-H2-Ab1bm12/KhEgJ</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>001162</td>
			<td>Bm12 mouse strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FastDigest PsuI</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>FD1554</td>
			<td>Restriction digest enzyme for genotyping</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1X RBC Lysis Buffer</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>00-4333-57</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IMDM</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>SH30228.01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plasma Separation Tube (PST)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>365974</td>
			<td>Blood collection tube with Dipotassium EDTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Serum Separation Tube (SST)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>365967</td>
			<td>Blood collection tube with Clot activator / SST Gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ficoll</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>17-1440-02&#160;</td>
			<td>High density cell separation solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lympholyte-M</td>
			<td>Cedarlane</td>
			<td>CL5030</td>
			<td>High density cell separation solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GL-7-biotin</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>13-5902-82&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin-BUV395</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>564176</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD138-BV421</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>142508</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD4-BV510</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>100559</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TCR&#946;-BV605</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>562840</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD45.1-BV711</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>110739</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD45.2-FITC</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>109806</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PD-1-PE</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>135206</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD19-PerCP</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>115532</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fas-PE-Cy7</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>557653</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CXCR5-APC</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>145506</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fixable Viability Dye ef780</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>65-0865-18</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD4-BV421</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>100443</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.2 ml FACS tube inserts, racked</td>
			<td>USA Scientific</td>
			<td>1412-1400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Falcon&#8482; Round-Bottom Tubes</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>352017</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the bm12 inducible model of systemic lupus erythematosus (sle) in c57bl/6 mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with diverse clinical and immunological manifestations. Several spontaneous and inducible animal models mirror common components of human disease, including the bm12 transfer model. Upon transfer of bm12 splenocytes or purified CD4 T cells, C57BL/6 mice rapidly develop large frequencies of T follicular helper cells (Tfh), germinal center (GC) B cells, and plasma cells followed by high levels of circulating anti-nuclear antibodies. Since this model utilizes mice on a pure C57BL/6 background, researchers can quickly and easily study disease progression in transgenic or knockout mouse strains in a relatively short period of time. Here we describe protocols for the induction of the model and the quantitation Tfh, GC B cells, and plasma cells by multi-color flow cytometry. Importantly, these protocols can also be used to characterize disease in most mouse models of SLE and identify Tfh, GC B cells, and plasma cells in other disease models.

Diseased mice develop splenomegaly in as little as 14 days, exhibiting spleens 2-3 times the size of healthy mice in terms of mass and cellularity (Figure 2).
Splenocytes are sequentially gated on light scatter (FSC-A by SSC-A), elimination of doublets (FSC-W or -H by FSC-A), viable cells (low staining of viability dye), and CD4+TCR&#946;+ (Figure 3A). Donor cells are distinguished from recipient cells based on CD45.1 and CD45.2 (...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE in C57BL/6 Mice at JoVE.com

The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE in C57BL/6 Mice

The transfer of bm12 lymphocytes into a C57BL/6 recipient is an established model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Here we describe how to initiate disease using this model and how to characterize T follicular helper cells, germinal center B cells and plasma cells by flow cytometry.

The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in C57BL/6 Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with diverse clinical and immunological manifestations. Several spontaneous and inducible ...

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17.0K Views.  Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The transfer of bm12 lymphocytes into a C57BL/6 recipient is an established model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Here we describe how to initiate disease using this model and how to characterize T follicular helper cells, germinal center B cells and plasma cells by flow cytometry.