Effect of (chloro-4-phenyl) thiomethylene bisphosphonic acid (SR 41319) on the autoimmune disease activity in MRL/l mice.

MRL - lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune pathology including arthritic lesions. SR 41319, a bisphosphonate, having previously shown to be active in in vitro and in vivo models of arthritis, the aim of this study was to search for its possible effect on the pathology of the MRL/l mice. Results showed that SR 41319 reduced the severity of the disease in its early stages and increased mean life span. Further investigation would be necessary to define the effect of the drug during later stages when major changes in immune status occurred.