PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Steinberg, A D
AU  - Roths, J B
AU  - Murphy, E D
AU  - Steinberg, R T
AU  - Raveche, E S
TI  - Effects of thymectomy or androgen administration upon the autoimmune disease of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice.
DP  - 1980 Aug 01
TA  - The Journal of Immunology
PG  - 871--873
VI  - 125
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.jimmunol.org/content/125/2/871.short
4100  - http://www.jimmunol.org/content/125/2/871.full
SO  - J. Immunol.1980 Aug 01; 125
AB  - MRL/lpr and NZB X NZW F1 mice were neonatally thymectomized or treated with androgens from 2 weeks of age, and their natural histories were studied. Neonatal thymectomy of MRL/lpr mice led to marked reduction in the usual massive lymphadenopathy as well as significant reduction in antibodies to native DNA and prolonged survival. In contrast, neonatal thymectomy of NZB X NZW F1 mice led to accelerated disease. Androgen therapy of both mice led to reduced anti-DNA and prolonged survival. This occurred in the MRL/lpr mice without significant reduction in lymphadenopathy. Taken together, these studies suggest that different T cell abnormalities may underlie the development of autoimmunity in MRL/lpr and NZB X NZW F1 mice, but that disease may be expressed through a common androgen-sensitive pathway.