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The functional activity of natural killers (NK) in the spleen and lymph nodes and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production have been studied in MPL-MpJ-lpr/lpr (H-2k) mice with genetically predetermined autoimmune diseases and CBA (H-2k) mice. In MPL/l mice it has been shown that NK activity in the spleen was markedly depressed already in the first month of life, whereas in lymph nodes there is a substantial NK activity on days 7-10, which reaches its maximum by the second month and by the 6th months is practically intractable. IL-2 production in MPL/l mice was depressed at all stages of investigation.

The functional activity of T-suppressors in experimental adjuvant arthritis in CBA and C57BL/6 mice, as well as after the injection of an immunosuppressive agent, has been studied. The successful development of experimental arthritis has been shown to occur simultaneously with essential disturbances (a decrease) in the function of T-suppressors. The injection of batriden, an immunosuppressive agent, into mice at the moment when adjuvant arthritis is induced in the animals leads to an even greater suppression of the function of T-suppressors. The degree to which this function is suppressed in experimental adjuvant arthritis depends on the genotype of mice.

Genetic control over sensitivity to experimental adjuvant arthritis was studied in different strains of inbred, recombinant and congeneic mice. The development of adjuvant arthritis is genetically regulated, with sensitivity to adjuvant arthritis controlled by H62-complex. The genes controlling sensitivity to adjuvant arthritis were shown to be located in (S-region) H-2 system.

The functional activity of natural killer cells in mice with experimentally induced autoimmune (adjuvant) arthritis and in NZB mice with genetically determined autoimmune disturbances has been studied. A charp suppression of natural killer cells has been shown to occur in the process of the development and in the course of adjuvant arthritis. A similar picture has been noted in the study of natural killer cells in NZB mice, suppression in these mice occurring simultaneously with the appearance of the signs of autoimmune disturbances. The activity of natural killer cells in the lymph nodes of NZB mice has proved to be absent practically during the whole period of study. The preventive role of natural killer cells in autoimmunity is suggested.