P. Appleby et al., SUPPRESSION OF AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE IN NZB W F(1) MICE BY TREATMENT WITH THE NOVEL IMMUNOMODULATOR BTS-63155/, Clinical and experimental immunology, 93(3), 1993, pp. 313-317
Autoimmune disease in NZB/W F1 mice was treated from 23 weeks of age w
ith the novel immunomodulator BTS 63155 and, for comparative purposes,
the established immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A. Both drugs sig
nificantly improved survival compared with untreated controls. Lupus n
ephritis was also significantly reduced in the drug-treated groups, an
d this was related to reduced glomerular deposition of IgG. Autoantibo
dy (ANA) levels were lowered by treatment with cyclosporin A, but not
by BTS 63155. This latter finding may indicate a different mode of act
ion for the two drugs. In a long term study, neither drug effected a c
omplete cure, as autoimmune disease recurred on withdrawal of drug tre
atment.