Effects of dietary restriction on immune function and development of autoimmune disease in BXSB mice

Chronic energy intake restriction (CEIR) ed the median life span and inhibited autoimmunity development of autoimmune disease in BXSB mice, as has established for mice of several other autoimmune-prone, strains. Whether imposed just after weaning or until manifestations of disease had appeared, CEIR or reversed development of autoimmunity and imcomplex-based renal disease in male BXSB mice. CEIR revented the formation of anti-DNA antibodies and ted the increase in circulating immune complex levels typically observed in male mice of this strain. Moreover, exhibited development of splenomegaly and prevented mal age-associated decline of a number of immunologfunctions, including interleukin 2 production, cell-cytotoxic responses, and mixed lymphocyte reactivobserved improvement in cell-mediated immune rewas attributed largely to the capacity of CEIR to inhibit ment of the splenomegaly that occurs concomitant with lon of a non-T, non-B lymphoid cell population. These emphasize that CEIR, even when imposed relatively life in BXSB mice, can influence expression of autoimes and autoimmune diseases of different genetic origins presumed pathogenetic bases.