Open AccessBeneficial effect of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor mycophenolate mofetil on survival and severity of glomerulonephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)‐prone MRL lpr/lpr mice
Author(s) -
Charlotte Jonsson,
Lars Svensson,
Hans Carlsten
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.00901.x
Subject(s) - mycophenolate , medicine , immunology , glomerulonephritis , mycophenolic acid , imp dehydrogenase , systemic lupus erythematosus , inosine , cyclophosphamide , lupus erythematosus , kidney , chemotherapy , antibody , disease , transplantation , adenosine
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on the course of disease in SLE‐prone MRL lpr/lpr mice. Three‐months‐old mice displaying clinical symptoms of glomerulonephritis were given MMF (100 mg/kg per day) orally via the drinking water. Control mice received i.p. injections of cyclophosphamide (CYC) (1.8 mg/mouse per week) or saline. Survival, albuminuria and haematuria, immunoglobulin levels and anti‐dsDNA antibodies in serum, frequencies of immunoglobulin‐producing B lymphocytes and glomerular deposits of immunoglobulin and C3 were analysed. The results showed that MMF treatment significantly prolonged survival and reduced the occurrence of albuminuria and haematuria in MRL lpr/lpr mice. In addition, the number of immunoglobulin‐producing B cells and serum levels of IgG and IgG anti‐dsDNA antibodies were reduced after MMF and CYC treatment. MMF treatment significantly reduced the extent of deposition of C3 in glomeruli. We conclude that the reduced severity of glomerulonephritis following treatment of lupus‐prone mice with MMF was as efficacious as that of CYC. These results warrant clinical trials of MMF in SLE patients with glomerulonephritis.