EFFECT OF INJECTION OF ANTI-CD4 AND ANTI-CD8 MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES ONTHE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS IN MICE

Induction of an experimental disease resembling systemic lupus erythem atosus (SLE) has been achieved in mice by immunization with a human mo noclonal anti-DNA antibody, bearing a common idiotype, designated 16/6 Id. In the present study we used anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies to modulate the induction and development of the experimental disease. Th us, depletion of CD4(+) T cells prior to the immunization with the 16/ 6 Id inhibited the induction of experimental SLE, In contrast, injecti on of anti-CD4 antibodies to mice that were already immunized with the 16/6 Id did not prevent the development of the disease. Furthermore, administration of anti-CD8 antibodies either before or after priming w ith the 16/6 Id increased the serological and clinical manifestations of the disease. These results demonstrate the pathogenic role of CD4() and CD8(+) T cells in the induction and development of the experimen tal SLE. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.