Accelerated mortality in young NZB/NZW mice treated with the interferon inducer tilorone hydrochloride

Abstract

Tilorone, 100 mg/kg, was given once a week to two groups of NZB/NZW mice: young mice aged 3 months without overt disease, and 8-month-old mice with established autoimmune disease. Young treated animals died prematurely with severe glomerulonephritis and vasculitis, but lifespans were not shortened in old treated mice. Thymic atrophy was common in treated animals. Tilorone therapy did not affect autoantibody levels; nevertheless, terminal C 3 values were decreased significantly in young treated mice. Although interferon activity was detected in sera from young treated mice, it provided no protection from spontaneous autoimmune disease. Tilorone-induced suppression of cell-mediated immunity may have caused accelerated disease and premature death in NZB/NZW mice.