MYCOBACTERIA PRECIPITATE AN SLE-LIKE SYNDROME IN DIABETES-PRONE NOD MICE

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop organ-specific aut oimmunity and are widely used as a model for diabetes. Aged NOD mice a lso exhibit some features of non-organ-specific autoimmune rheumatic d isease such as anti-nuclear antibodies and late-onset haemolytic anaem ia. Here, we report that a single dose of 2.6 x 10(7) heat-killed baci llus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) i.v. in 8-week-old NOD mice prevented diabe tes but precipitated a syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosu s (SLE). Treated mice developed haemolytic anaemia, anti-DNA and anti- Sm anti-nuclear autoantibodies and an increased severity of sialadenit is. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in the kidneys and glomerula r immune complex deposition were also found. The action of BCG appeare d to be mediated by an adjuvant-like activity as treated mice showed a substantial increase in reticuloendothelial cell function and enhance d antigen presentation capacity.