# Characterization of SLE-susceptibility loci on mouse chromosome 1

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $571,817

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Sle1 was initially identified as the locus with the highest linkage to lupus nephritis
in the NZM2410 model. The characterization of the B6.Sle1 congenic mice showed that Sle1 controls the loss
of tolerance to chromatin and that it is functionally expressed in B and CD4+ T cells. Sle1 expression is required
for disease to develop, and its suppression by Sles1/Sle4 abrogates disease regardless of the presence of other
susceptibility loci. Because Sle1 is responsible for a defining trigger in lupus pathogenesis, the loss of tolerance
to nuclear antigens, and because mouse models expressing Sle1 are extensively used, the identification of the
Sle1 genes and the elucidation of the mechanisms they control will greatly advance our understanding of lupus
pathogenesis. Starting from a region over 40 Mb long, we have identified five loci, Sle1a1 and Sle1a2, Sle1b,
and Sle1c1 and Sle1c2. In this project, we propose to characterize how two genes, Pbx1, corresponding to
Sle1a1, and Esrrg, corresponding to Sle1c2, control the plasticity and stability of CD4+ T cells. The functions of
Pbx1 and Esrrg are well known in multiple tissues, but not in the immune system. Lupus-associated Pbx1-d is a
dominant-negative allele, while Esrrg is expressed at lower levels in Sle1c2 T cells. We have published results
as well as strong preliminary data supporting the scientific premise that the Pbx1 and Esrrg lupus alleles promote
instability or dysfunction in Foxp3+ regulatory CD4+ T cells (Treg), and promote the expansion of follicular helper
T cells (Tfhs), two common features of lupus in mice and in humans.
Ample evidence exists that Treg cells are unstable in inflammatory conditions, as they can lose Foxp3 expression
and their suppressive capacity, while acquiring pro-inflammatory functions. Besides the presence of
inflammatory cytokines, the mechanisms governing this process are poorly defined. We have also evidence that
Pbx1 and Esrrg control the expansion of the follicular regulatory T cell (Tfr) pool. This relatively newly described
T cell subset regulates germinal center function. The frequency of Tfrs is reduced in SLE patients in correlation
with disease activity. Tfrs differentiate from Tregs, but the factors that regulate their differentiation and their
relative frequency relative to Tfh are largely unknown. We propose that Pbx1 and Esrrg are two novel factors
directly controlling Treg stability, and directly or indirectly Tfr and Tfh expansion by two different mechanisms.
Our preliminary results suggest that chromatin pioneer transcription factor (TF) Pbx1 regulates the expression
of metabolic genes and controls access to the Treg CNS2 locus controlling the stability of Foxp3 expression,
while Esrrg controls Treg survival and quiescence through mitochondrial metabolism, which has been shown to
regulate Foxp3 expression. We have assembled the tools to test this hypothesis, first using novel mouse strains
to dissect the consequences of P...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160634
- **Project number:** 5R01AI045050-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Laurence Morel
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $571,817
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1999-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160634

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160634, Characterization of SLE-susceptibility loci on mouse chromosome 1 (5R01AI045050-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160634. Licensed CC0.

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