Immunopathology of murine lupus-overview, SL/Ni and MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr-

Murine lupus is a useful animal model for the study of disease based on some defect in the immune system including the so-called collagen diseases. Seven strains are available in Japan; NZB, NZB/WF1, MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr, BxSB, SL/Ni, NC and C3H/HeJ-gld/gld. Characteristics of these strains of mice are outlined. Care should be taken about applying the knowledge or information obtained from animal models to the analysis of related human disease because there are various genetic or species barriers which cannot be overcome. Therefore, it is rather dangerous to conclude that the pathogenesis of some human disease is similar to that of an animal model from a study of the latter. Therefore, one should divide the data obtained from animal experiments into "factors" and insert each factor in the "formula" of a human disease in order to better understand it. Recent studies by the authors on two strains of lupus mouse; SL/Ni and MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr from such a standpoint are presented and discussed in detail.