The effect of exogenous interferon: acceleration of autoimmune and renal diseases in (NZB/W) F1 mice.

To determine the effect of prolonged administration of exogenous interferon on the autoimmune disease of NZB/W female mice, forty-four NZB/W mice received three injections per week of 6.4 x 10(4) interferon units from birth to 33 weeks, forty mice were injected with mock interferon and forty-eight mice were left untreated. In mice injected with interferon growth was delayed, survival was decreased, and the severity of the glomerulonephritis was enhanced. Interferon increased the titre of serum anti-ssDNA and anti-soluble nucleoprotein antibodies, but had no effect on the circulating immune complex load. These results suggest that interferon in some way affects local deposition of immune complexes within the glomerulus.