title: The effects of deoxyspergualin on the development of diabetes in diabetes-prone BB rats.
abstract: The effects of the administration of the recently discovered immunosuppressant 15-Deoxyspergualin (DSP) on the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in diabetes-prone BB rats were studied. The data show that 2 mg/kg body weight DSP, administered six times a week from the 30th day up to the 105th day of age, significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes in diabetes-prone BB rats as compared with the PBS-injected controls. The drug was also able to reduce the signs of pancreatic insulitis and the percentages of W3/25+ and OX6+ splenocytes. Interruption of the treatment resulted in a later onset of diabetes in a high percentage of animals within 41 days. These findings suggest that 15-DSP may temporarily reverse the pathogenic mechanisms leading to beta cell destruction and autoimmune diabetes in a well-known experimental model of human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunopathology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mughini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menta
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Schorlemmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006146:Guanidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C037258:gusperimus