title: Initial role of macrophage in the development of anti-beta-cell cellular autoimmunity in multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice.
abstract: Multiple injections of low doses of streptozotocin to susceptible strains of mice produce an experimental autoimmune diabetes mellitus. To investigate the possible initial role of macrophages in the development of insulitis, we studied the effect of macrophage-toxic silica administration on the development of in vitro cellular cytotoxic immune response against pancreatic beta-cells. Multiple streptozotocin-treated mice developed hyperglycemia at day 12 and their splenocytes showed cytotoxicity against cultured rat insulinoma cells. Mice given silica and streptozotocin together remained normoglycemic and their splenocytes showed no cytotoxicity. In contrast, in vitro depletion of macrophages from the splenocytes of mice given multiple streptozotocin alone did not abolish the cytotoxicity. These results show that macrophages themselves contribute little to the cellular cytotoxicity, but are necessary for the development of cytotoxic cells. From these results we suggest that there are at least two different steps in the development of insulitis; the presentation of beta-cell autoantigen by macrophages to helper-T cells, followed by the development of beta-cell-specific cytotoxic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ihm
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D013311:Streptozocin; D012822:Silicon Dioxide