THE EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS INTERFERON - ACCELERATION OF AUTOIMMUNE AND RENAL DISEASES IN (NZB-W) F1-MICE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (2) , 373-382
Abstract
To determine the effect of prolonged administration of exogenous interferon on the autoimmune disease of NZB/W female mice, 44 NZB/w mice received 3 injections/wk of 6.4 .times. 104 interferon units from birth to 33 wks, 40 mice were injected with mock interferon and 48 mice were left untreated. In mice injected with interferon, growth was delayed, survival was decreased and the severity of the glomerulonephritis was enhanced. Interferon increased the titer of serum anti-ss[single-stranded]DNA and anti-soluble nucleoprotein antibodies but had no effect on the circulating immune complex load. Interferon in some way affects local deposition of immune complexes within the glomerulus.