Interstitial pneumonitis in autoimmune MRL/lpr mice and its treatment with cyclosporin A.
Age-associated changes of anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibodies, anti-single-stranded (ss) DNA antibodies, and serum immune complex concentrations were studied in MRL/lpr mice. All anti-ds DNA antibodies, anti-ss DNA antibodies, and immune complexes began to be detected in the sera of MRL/lpr mice aged 8 to 13 weeks and increased remarkably after 17 weeks of age. Almost no pathological findings were observed histologically in the lungs of MRL/lpr mice aged 8 weeks but interstitial pneumonitis became evident at 14 weeks of age. Peribronchial and perivascular lymphocyte infiltrations were seen in the lungs of 14-week-old MRL/lpr mice and became more severe at 21 weeks of age. Oral administration of cyclosporin A to 15-week-old MRL/lpr mice markedly prolonged their life span. The lungs of 44-week-old MRL/lpr mice given cyclosporin A showed few pathological findings except for minimal perivascular lymphocyte infiltration.
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003524:Cyclosporins; D004247:DNA