Effect of injection of anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies on the development of experimental systemic lupus erythematosus in mice.

Induction of an experimental disease resembling systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been achieved in mice by immunization with a human monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, bearing a common idiotype, designated 16/6 Id. In the present study we used anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies to modulate the induction and development of the experimental disease. Thus, depletion of CD4+ T cells prior to the immunization with the 16/6 inhibited the induction of experimental SLE. In contrast, injection of anti-CD4 antibodies to mice that were already immunized with the 16/6 Id did not prevent the development of the disease. Furthermore, administration of anti-CD8 antibodies either before or after priming with the 16/6 Id increased the serological and clinical manifestations of the disease. These results demonstrate the pathogenic role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the induction and development of the experimental SLE.