title: Inhibition of autoimmune deterioration in MRL/lpr mice by vitamin E.
abstract: The potential of the antioxidant vitamin E to modulate the progress of the SLE-like (systemic lupus erythematosus) autoimmune disease in MRL/MP-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice is described. Mice were orally supplemented with 0.4 mg vitamin E per day 5 times per week from week 8 of age onwards and compared with mice on a commercial or a vitamin E-deficient diet. Supplementation with vitamin E extended the mean survival time from 157 to 196 days; the massive spleen and lymph node enlargements were reduced; mitogenic responses of B and T cells were normalized; the abnormal differentiation patterns of thymic and splenic cell sub-populations were changed; titers of anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, concentrations of serum amyloid P component (SAP, an acute phase protein), and proteinuria were reduced. The results indicate that vitamin E beneficially affects the development of the SLE-like disease in MRL/lpr mice suggesting a possible measure to reduce human SLE and probably various other autoimmune diseases in humans as well.
authors.affiliation: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Vitamins Division, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Weimann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000150:complications; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D014810:Vitamin E