Degree of modification of Ro60 by the lipid peroxidation by-product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal may differentially induce Sjögren syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus in BALB/c mice.

Our previous work showed that immunization of rabbits with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-modified Ro60 (HNE-Ro60) accelerates autoimmunity. We extended this model into mice, hypothesizing that the severity of autoimmunity would be dependent on the degree of HNE modification of Ro60. Five groups of BALB/c mice (10/group) were used.