Dietary restrictions early and late: effects on the nephropathy of the NZB X NZW mouse.

NZB X NZW F1 mice initiated on calorie restriction at weaning or at 4 to 5 months of age or initiated on moderate protein restriction at weaning, were afforded significant protection from the development of immune nephritis. Whereas animals on normal calorie intake demonstrated deposition of immune reactants in glomerular basement membrane-oriented pattern, those on either protein or calorie restriction exhibited mesangial confinement of immunoglobulins and complement. Associated with these divergent patterns of immune deposition, mice on normal calorie intake evidence extensive cellular proliferation and glomerular sclerosis while dietary restricted mice demonstrated virtually no hyalinization and only mild cellular proliferation. Autoantibody formation of calorie-restricted animals was significantly decreased compared to mice fed a normal diet. Thus, moderate dietary restriction may serve as either a prophylactic or effective therapeutic approach to ongoing autoimmune disease.