Rectification of immunological abnormalities and lupus nephritis by the transfer of bone marrow cells

Two-month old MRL/1 mice, which spontaneously develop lymphoproliferative syndrome and severe lupus nephritis at 4-5 months of age, were irradiated and reconstituted with bone marrow cells from a congenic strain MRL/n mice. In the chimeric (n----1) mice, the early onset of the lupus nephritis was prevented as evidenced by decrease in the degree of proteinuria, diminished intensity of immune deposits in glomeruli, and milder histopathologic changes in kidneys. Lymph node swelling as well as generation of a large number of splenic IgSC was also prevented. Anti-ss DNA antibody response in the chimeric mice, however, varied tremendously from one animal to another.