title: Beneficial effects of non-depleting anti-CD4 in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice with active systemic lupus erythematosus and microscopic angiitis.
abstract: MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice spontaneously develop lymphoproliferation and systemic autoimmune disease. The majority of mice in any cohort develop systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and up to a quarter of them develop a syndrome that resembles microscopic angiitis (MPA). Both conditions are characterized by vasculitis, glomerulonephritis and autoantibody formation. Depleting anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment is ineffective in MRL/lpr mice after disease onset. The present study investigates the effects of a non-depleting anti-CD4 mAb in MRL/lpr mice with active SLE or MPA. This antibody increased survival compared to control Ig but did not prolong survival compared to non-treated mice. However, anti-CD4 significantly reduced lymphoproliferation in the mice and furthermore reduced the vasculitis component of the autoimmune disease following several weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G