Arsenic trioxide: A promising novel therapeutic agent for lymphoproliferative and autoimmune syndromes in MRL/lpr mice

MRL/lpr mice develop a human lupuslike syndrome and, as in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), massive lymphoproliferation due to inactivation of Fas-mediated apoptosis. Presently, no effective therapy exists for ALPS, and long term, therapies for lupus are hazardous. We show herein that arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is able to achieve quasi-total regression of antibody- and cell-mediated manifestations in MRL/lpr mice. As₂O₃ activated caspases and eliminated the activated T lymphocytes responsible for lymphoproliferation and skin, lung, and kidney lesions, leading to significantly prolonged survival rates. This treatment also markedly reduced anti-DNA autoantibody, rheumatoid factor, IL-18, IFN-γ, nitric oxide metabolite, TNF-α, Fas ligand, and IL-10 levels and immune-complex deposits in glomeruli. As₂O₃ restored cellular reduced glutathione levels, thereby limiting the toxic effect of nitric oxide, which is overproduced in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, As₂O ₃ protected young animals against developing the syndrome and induced almost total disease disappearance in older affected mice, thereby demonstrating that it is a novel promising therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases.