To evaluate the role of V beta 8+ T cells in the development of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome in MRL-lpr/lpr mice, we treated them with the F23.1 anti-V beta 8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) from birth to 4 months of age. Here we report that almost complete depletion of V beta 8+ T cells by the F23.1 mAb treatment neither inhibited nor delayed the development of hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibody production and autoimmune glomerulonephritis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice. In addition, the F23.1 mAb treatment did not prevent the development of lymphadenopathy and the generation of a CD4-CD8- double-negative T cell subset, characteristically accumulating in lpr lymph nodes. Our results strongly argue against the idea that the V beta 8+ T cells play a critical role in the development of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome in MRL-lpr/lpr mice.