{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "d029c59777c84c9bad57d48f2ef1f8a0", "timestamp": "2026-05-23T19:27:55.127Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/d029c59777c84c9bad57d48f2ef1f8a0.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/d029c59777c84c9bad57d48f2ef1f8a0"}}, "title": "Efficacy of mebendazole in the spontaneous NZBxNZWF1 animal model of systemic lupus erythematosus.", "authors": [{"family": "Eloranta", "given": "M L", "initials": "ML"}, {"family": "Nygren", "given": "P", "initials": "P"}, {"family": "Larsson", "given": "R", "initials": "R"}, {"family": "Loskog", "given": "A", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Woodworth", "given": "N", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Hultqvist", "given": "M", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Svensson", "given": "Richard", "initials": "R"}, {"family": "Gravenfors", "given": "Ylva", "initials": "Y"}, {"family": "R\u00f6nnblom", "given": "L", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Frykn\u00e4s", "given": "M\u00e5rten", "initials": "M"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2026-02-12", "journal": {"title": "Sci Rep", "issn": "2045-2322", "volume": "16", "issue": "1", "pages": "6357", "issn-l": "2045-2322"}, "abstract": "Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a complex etiology involving both innate and adaptive immune dysregulation. Among several perturbed signaling pathways, decreased ERK activity in CD4\u207a T-cells has been linked to DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression in SLE. Mebendazole (MBZ), an anti-helminthic drug with a well-established safety profile, has shown immunomodulatory effects in preclinical studies, including activation of the MEK/ERK pathway and inhibition of MAPK14 (p38), a known driver of inflammation. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of MBZ in SLE, we tested its efficacy in NZBxNZWF1 mice, a spontaneous and well-characterized SLE model. MBZ treatment resulted in reduced proteinuria, lower anti-dsDNA antibody levels, and diminished glomerular IgG deposition, both in preventive and therapeutic settings. Exploratory in vitro data suggest that MBZ may also influence ERK signaling in B cells, while the mechanistic basis of these effects remains to be clarified. Our findings demonstrate robust phenotypic improvements and support further investigation of MBZ as a repositioned candidate for SLE.\n\nThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-37930-z.", "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-37930-z", "pmid": "41680254", "labels": {"Drug Discovery and Development": "Service"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC12905218"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41598-026-37930-z"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-05-14T20:14:52.517Z", "modified": "2026-05-14T20:14:52.521Z"}