Prevention of autoimmune diabetes in the BB rat by intrathymic islet transplantation at birth.
Spontaneous diabetes in the BioBreeding (BB) rat, like human type I diabetes, results from the destruction of pancreatic islets by autoreactive T lymphocytes recognizing beta cell-specific antigens. T cell tolerance is in part mediated by interactions of maturing thymocytes with antigens expressed in the thymic microenvironment; islets were therefore implanted into the thymus of neonatal diabetes-prone BB rats to determine whether exposure of T cell precursors to beta cell antigens could influence the development of diabetes. This treatment completely prevented diabetes and insulitis in the native pancreas. The effect may be the result of specific modulation of diabetogenic T cells maturing in an islet-bearing thymus.
Posselt
A M
AM
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Barker
C F
CF
Friedman
A L
AL
Naji
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens