Development and function of diabetogenic T-cells in B-cell-deficient nonobese diabetic mice.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2001

Keywords

B-Lymphocytes, Diabetes-Mellitus-Insulin-Dependent, Female, Fetal-Tissue-Transplantation, Male, Mice, Mice-Inbred-NOD, Mice-SCID, Pancreas, SUPPORT-NON-U-S-GOVT, T-Lymphocytes

First Page

763

Last Page

770

JAX Source

Diabetes 2001 Apr; 50(4):;763-70.

Abstract

Insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes) in the NOD mouse is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. However, B-cells may also play a critical role in disease pathogenesis, as genetically B-cell-deficient NOD mice (NOD.microMT) have been shown to be protected from type 1 diabetes and to display reduced responses to certain islet autoantigens. To examine the requirements for B-cells in the development of type 1 diabetes, we generated a B-cell-naive T-cell repertoire by transplantation of NOD fetal thymuses (FTs) into NOD.scid recipients. Surprisingly, these FT-derived NOD T-cells were diabetogenic in 36% of NOD.scid recipients, despite the absence of B-cells. In addition, T-cells isolated from NOD.microMT mice were diabetogenic in 22% of NOD.scid recipients. Together, these results indicate that B-cells are not an absolute requirement for the generation or effector function of an islet-reactive T-cell repertoire in NOD mice. We suggest that conditions favoring rapid lymphocyte expansion can reveal autoreactive T-cell activity and precipitate disease in genetically susceptible individuals.

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