A Tolerogenic Peptide Hcdr1 Aggravates Lupus In Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Model Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The hCDR1 is a synthetic peptide based on the complementarity determining region 1 of an autoantibody and ameliorates serological and clinical manifestations of lupus in NZB/W F1 mice. This study aimed to determine the potential effects of hCDR1 in SLE-like chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) mouse model. We found that hCDR1 administrated by gavage had no significant effect on the disease progression in SLE-cGVHD mice. However, hCDR1 administrated by subcutaneous injection exacerbated the lupus-like disease manifested by earlier onset of proteinuria, elevated serum levels of autoantibodies, more immune complex deposition in the kidney and severe kidney injury in SLE-cGVHD mice. SLE-cGVHD mice that received hCDR1 by subcutaneous injection also exhibited significant increase of CD4+ Treg cells proportion. This study demonstrated that hCDR1 administrated through subcutaneous injection but not gavages slightly aggravated the disease in SLE-cGVHD.