The pathogenesis of autoimmunity in New Zealand black mice.

Abstract

This paper will review the immune disease of New Zealand Black (NZB) mice and their F1 hybrids produced by mating with New Zealand White mice (NZB/NZW). It will attempt to highlight important recent observations made in many laboratories around the world without exhaustively reviewing all papers written on the subject. Previous reviews have emphasized pathological changes and disease descriptions in New Zealand mice (Howie and Helyer, 1968; Helyer and Howie, 1963 a). The present effort will stress the immunological abnormalities of these mice. An attempt will be made to relate these immunological abnormalities with genetic and viral factors known to be important in their disease processes. The authors and their co-workers have studied approximately 20 000 NZB and NZB/NZW mice with regard to natural history, immunology, pathogenesis of disease and therapy. They will draw upon this experience when possible to fill in details not available in published reports.