The use of the murine chronic graft vs host (CGVH) disease, a model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), for drug discovery.

Studies were conducted to evaluate the use of a murine SLE-like disease for the discovery of novel drugs: This disease is the result of a chronic form of a graft vs host (GVH) reaction. Using prednisolone (Pr), cyclophosphamide (Cy), indomethacin (Indo), and the isoxazol derivative, HWA 486, we found that only Indo was ineffective in inhibiting the SLE symptoms. Interestingly, HWA 486, which did not display any immunosuppressive activity, restored the suppressed T-cell response to the same level as found in healthy mice. We feel that this murine model of SLE could be of value for discovering substances with novel antirheumatic, and/or immunomodulating activities.