Distinct Roles for Complement in Glomerulonephritis and Atherosclerosis Revealed in Mice With a Combination of

Objective. Although the accelerating effect of sys-temic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on atherosclerosis is well established, the underlying mechanisms are un-known. The aim of this study was to explore the hypothe-sis that lupus autoimmunity modulates the effect of hypercholesterolemia in driving arterial pathologic de-velopment. Methods. Low-density lipoprotein receptor– deficient (Ldlr/) mice were crossed with B6.129-Sle16 (Sle16)–congenic autoimmune mice to obtain Sle16. Ldlr/ mice, which were compared with Ldlr/ and Sle16 control mice. All mice were fed either a low-fat or high-fat diet. Groups of mice were compared, by strain and by diet group, for features of accelerated athero-sclerosis and autoimmunity