Figure 7.
Inhibitory oligonucleotides (INH-ODNs) prolong survival and decrease morbidity in MRL-Faslpr/lpr mice in vivo. Pre-diseased MRL-Faslpr/lpr (2J strain) mice were treated with INH-1, INH-18, or vehicle starting from week 15 for 25 consecutive weeks. ODNs were injected intraperitoneally three times weekly at the concentration of 1 mg/kg body weight. Surviving mice were sacrificed at week 40. Similar results were obtained in three additional cohorts of lupus mice (J and 2J strains). Effects of INH-ODNs on survival (a), total lymph node weight (b), proteinuria (c), composite renal score (d), and IgG deposits in kidneys (e, f) are shown. *P < 0.05 (ODN-treated versus vehicle-treated). PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.