Helper-inducer T-lymphocytes mediate diabetes in EMC-infected BALB/c ByJ mice.
Diabetes mellitus developing in BALB/c ByJ mice infected with the M variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus is dependent on thymic immune mechanisms. We treated mice with the anti-T-lymphocyte monoclonal anti-L3T4 and anti-Lyt2.2 antibodies before virus inoculation and monitored the infection and occurrence of diabetes thereafter. Mice depleted of L3T4+ cells exhibited a reduced incidence and severity of diabetes compared with both untreated and anti-Lyt2.2-treated animals. All mice sustained pancreatic infections, but islet lesions with beta-cell degranulation only occurred in control infected and anti-Lyt2.2-treated animals. These data support the conclusion that the induction of diabetes in EMC-infected BALB/c mice is immune mediated and controlled by the L3T4 T-lymphocyte subpopulation.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000276:immunology; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000276:immunology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum