Treatment
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Rationale for treatment
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Study protocol
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Effect on experimental SLE
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Sex hormones23
24
| Sex hormones may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE, since females are much more prone to develop SLE | The hormones were implanted subcutaneously, to achieve constant levels. One week later, the mice were immunised with the 16/6 Id | Testosterone and tamoxifen attenuated, while oestrogen aggravated SLE expression |
Bromocriptine (BRC)29
| Prolactin (PRL) enhances the expression of autoimmunity in humans and animals, BRC supresses PRL secretion | Immunised mice were treated with IP BRC for 6 weeks, starting 2 months after disease induction (ie, early disease stage) | Complete serological, histological, and clinical remission |
Cytokines65
| Th2 cells are important in the immunopathogenesis of experimental SLE.. Role of Th1 cells unclear | Immunised mice were treated with AS101 (increases the production of IL-2), IP for 7 weeks, or with INF-γ, before disease induction | No effect of IL-2. INF-γ caused rapid outburst of the disease, with raised IL-4 and IL-6 |
Anti-idiotypic antibodies37
| Autoimmune diseases may result from dysregulated idiotypic network | Immunised mice were treated, 2 months after disease induction, with anti-16/6 Id Sb by daily IP injections for 1 month | Attenuation of disease manifestations, mediated through reduction of anti-DNA Ab forming cells |
Id-specific Ts cells49
| Production of autoantibodies in SLE may be ralated to downregulation of Ts cells | SLE mice were treated, at different stages of the disease, with weekly IV injections of 16/6 Id-specific Ts cells, for 8 weeks | Early treatment prevented disease manifestations, treatment at late disease stage was less effective |
Anti-CD4 antibodies47
| Anti-CD4 Abs can block T cell activation, proliferation and release of cytokines, and suppress autoimmunity | SLE mice were treated with rat anti-CD4 mAb, either before and during disease induction, or 2 months after disease induction | Prevention of clinical manifestations, especially in early stages of the disease |
IVIG55
| IVIG treatment was found effective in several autoimmune diseases, including case reports on SLE | SLE mice were treated with IVIG (whole molecule, F(ab)2 or Fc fragments), starting 2 months after disease induction, for 6 weeks | Complete remission, probably mediated by anti-idiotypic activity |
Oral tolerance | Systemic tolerance can be achieved by feeding with pathogenic proteins | Mice were given different doses of the 16/6 Id (10-1000 μg) by oral intubation, 3 times every 3 days, before immunisation with the pathogenic Id | Different doses of oral 16/6 Id did not change disease expression |