title: Influence of biological response modifiers of bacterial origin on disease progression in the MRL-lpr model of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit some, but not all of the characteristics of human disease. Disease progression in the animal models is related to autoantibodies, genetics, and inflammatory processes. In this report the effects of two bacterial biological response modifiers (BRM) on disease progression in the MRL-lpr model were investigated. The two BRM tested were C. parvum and Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin (BCG), both of which are stimulators of the reticuloendothelial system and both of which have been shown by others to influence disease progression in NZB/W mice. Treatment of 10-week-old mice with C. parvum led to transient alterations in hepatosplenomegaly and plasma proteinase regulation, which then returned to control values. Treatment with BCG led to even more transient effects on the mice. Neither BRM appeared to impact on disease-associated alterations in autoantibody titres, hepatosplenomegaly, or elevations in plasma proteinase activity. Likewise, treatment of 17-week-old MRL-lpr mice with C. parvum did not influence disease progression as evidenced by survival, autoantibody production, or hepatosplenomegaly. Therefore, in contrast to the NZB/W strain, treatment of the MRL-lpr strain with these BRM does not appear to impact on disease progression. This difference may be due to the influence of the lpr accelerator gene in this model.
authors.affiliation: Joint Injury and Diseases Research Group, University of Calgary, Health Science Centre, Alberta.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garlepp
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fritzler
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010450:Endopeptidases