title: The contribution of L3T4+ T cells to lymphoproliferation and autoantibody production in MRL-lpr/lpr mice.
abstract: The current study examines the role of the L3T4 T cell subset in the development of lupus-like autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation in lpr-bearing mice. Chronic treatment of MRL-lpr/lpr mice with anti-L3T4 antibody beginning at 4 wk old was found to markedly decrease the production of IgG anti-DNA and antihistone antibodies, while having no effect on IgM autoantibodies. A dramatic reduction in splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy was also observed coincident with a decrease in the percentage and total number of Thy-1+, B220+ cells. Together, the data suggest an important role for L3T4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of disease in lpr mice and provide further evidence that a requirement for the L3T4 subset may be a common feature of murine autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80220.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Portanova
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kotzin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D009929:Organ Size; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M