The effects of pepsin on the natural progression of autoimmunity in glomerulonephritis in the NZB/W F1 mouse.

The effects of pepsin on autoimmune glomerulonephritis of New Zealand Black and White F1 hybrid (NZB/W F1) mice were investigated. Intravenous pepsin significantly improved survival rate and suppressed progressive increase in urinary protein and histopathological changes in kidney. Increased serum levels of immune complexes, anti-DNA antibody and natural thymocytotoxic autoantibody were decreased and abnormalities in lymphocyte subsets were ameliorated by pepsin. Pepsin suppressed autoantibody production and enhanced antibody production against xenogeneic substance in these mice. The fact that pepsin ameliorates abnormalities in immune function may contribute to the preventive effects of pepsin against pathogenesis and progression of immune complex nephritis.