Anti-CD4 treatment of NZB mice prevents the development of erythrocyte autoantibodies but hastens the appearance of anaemia.

New Zealand Black (NZB) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune haemolytic anaemia as the result of production of autoantibodies to erythrocytes. We have recently shown that antibodies to CD4 prevent the development of erythrocyte autoantibodies in young mice (Coombs' negative). In spite of this inhibition of erythrocyte autoantibody production, the anti-CD4-treated mice show a precocious and severe anaemia. Balb/c mice treated with the same protocol do not develop anaemia. Our results suggest that erythropoiesis in NZB mice is particularly sensitive to depletion of CD4+ T cells.