Influence of early or late dietary restriction on life span and immunological parameters in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice.

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Abstract
The influence of food intake, keeping vitamin and mineral intake constant, was investigated in mice of the MRL/MP-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) strain. Restriction of food intake greatly prolonged life. This influence also was seen when dietary restriction was imposed later in life. Dietary restriction inhibited development of lymphoproliferative disease and greatly decreased the numbers of cells in thymus, lymph nodes and spleen. It also delayed development of glomerulonephritis and maintained certain immunological responses. Proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen or allogeneic spleen cells were maintained in the mice fed a low-calorie diet from 6 wk. Imposing diet at 12 wk had a lesser influence than earlier restriction. These dietary influences did not depress formation of anti-DNA antibodies or circulating immunocomplexes. MRL/l mice showed an apparently extremely low production of interleukin 2, and dietary restriction increased the capacity of lymph node cells but not spleen cells to produce this immunomodulator.