Abstract: A transgenic animal model for arthritis is disclosed. The arthritic condition results from genetic (or immunologic) manipulations that result in the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of the animal being substantially limited relative to the TCR repertoire of a wildtype control animal. The TCR repertoire of the arthritic animal, albeit limited, is functionally viable. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to transgenic arthritic mice wherein arthritis results from (1) a transgenic allele which encodes and expresses TCR .alpha. and .beta. subunits that combine in T lymphocytes of the transgenic animal to form a TCR that recognizes an antigen comprising one or more epitopes of an oligopeptide derived from amino acids 41-61 of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease and/or (2) polypeptide arthritogenic self antigens derived from endogenous proteins.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 19, 1994
Date of Patent:
October 7, 1997
Assignees:
Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg 1, E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.
Inventors:
Christophe O. Benoist, Diane J. Mathis, Valerie Kouskoff