Increased CD5-positive B lymphocytes in type I diabetes.
CD5+ B lymphocytes have been implicated in the production of polyspecific and monospecific antibodies that bind self-antigens, and increased proportions of this B cell subset occur in patients with some autoimmune diseases. We investigated the proportion of peripheral blood CD5+ B lymphocytes in type I diabetic patients. Compared with 18 age-matched healthy subjects, 11 out of 28 (39.2%) type I diabetic patients had increased proportions of circulating CD5. B lymphocytes with no alterations in the numbers of circulating B and T lymphocytes. Although all patients with increased CD5 B lymphocytes also had serum islet cell antibodies and/or insulin autoantibodies, the occurrence of increased proportions of CD5+ B lymphocytes and serum autoantibodies was not significantly correlated. Increased proportions of CD5+ B lymphocytes was not related to the time elapsed since the clinical onset of diabetes. In addition, regardless of being increased or normal, the proportion of CD5+ B lymphocytes appeared as a relatively constant phenotype after 1 year of follow-up studies at 3-month intervals in eight patients. Although the significance of these findings remains to be established, the possibility exists that CD5+ cells play a role in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes.
Muñoz
A
A
Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Gallart
T
T
Viñas
O
O
Gomis
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007328:Insulin; C024211:islet cell antibody