Skin Disease Is Prevented But Nephritis Is Accelerated by Multiple Pregnancies in Autoimmune MRL/LPR Mice

    July 2007 in “ Lupus ”
    Gábor Kökény, Mária Godó, Eszter Nagy, Magdolna Kardos, Katja Kotsch, Pablo Ariel Casalis, Csaba Bödör, László Rosivall, Hans‐Dieter Volk, Ana Claudia Zenclussen, Péter Hamar
    TLDR Multiple pregnancies prevent skin disease but worsen kidney disease in certain mice.
    In the study of MRL/lpr mice, a model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it was found that multiple pregnancies prevented skin disease but accelerated nephritis. Multiparous mice, which underwent three pregnancies, showed fewer skin lesions, characterized by hair loss and scabs, compared to virgin mice. This was associated with lower IFN-γ and higher IL-10 mRNA expression in the skin of multiparous mice. However, these mice experienced reduced survival and kidney function, with increased renal lesions and hypertension. The study suggested that lupus affects the skin and kidneys differently during pregnancy, with IFN-γ and IL-10 playing significant roles in local regulation.
    Discuss this study in the Community →