Pepsin and autoimmune disease mouse.

The effects of pepsin on autoimmune glomerulonephritis of MRL/1 mice were investigated. Intravenous administration of pepsin significantly improved survival rate and suppressed progressive increase in urinary excretion of protein and various histopathological changes in kidney. Increased serum levels of immune complex and anti-DNA antibody in MRL/1 mice were decreased by pepsin. Pepsin ameliorated abnormalities in lymphocyte subsets and lymphocyte functions. The fact that pepsin ameliorated abnormalities in immune function may contribute to the preventive effects of pepsin against pathogenesis and progress of immune complex nephritis.