Effects of fludarabine treatment on murine lupus nephritis.
BXSB mice, a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), were treated with two different doses of fludarabine for a four-week period and examined two weeks after the final dose. Control mice were treated with saline or cyclophosphamide. Mice treated with fludarabine had a significant reduction in renal pathology compared to control mice. Fludarabine-treated mice also had an almost 10-fold increase in percentile of CD8+CD25+ T cells in the spleen and a smaller but significant increase in CD4+CD25+ cells. Mice treated with cyclophosphamide had a greater leucopenia compared to the other groups and a significant reduction in percentile of B220+ cells in peripheral blood and spleen. Serum autoantibody levels to dsDNA did not differ significantly among the groups, but were higher in 4/10 mice treated with fludarabine. Although few trials of fludarabine for human SLE have been conducted, additional studies may be warranted.
Jones
O Y
OY
Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA. oyjones@cnmc.org
Alexander
P J
PJ
Lacson
A
A
Gok
F
F
Feliz
A
A
Marikar
Y
Y
Madivi
C
C
Jones
J M
JM
Good
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine