Differing attachment of diabetogenic and nondiabetogenic variants of encephalomyocarditis virus to beta-cells.
The D variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC-D) virus does not induce the production of interferon (IFN) and produces an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)-like syndrome in certain mouse strains. In contrast, the B variant (EMC-B) virus, which is serologically identical to EMC-D virus, is a good inducer of IFN and is nondiabetogenic. It has been postulated that IFN may play a major role in determining the ability of these two viruses to infect pancreatic beta-cells. However, recent studies have shown that ICR Swiss and BALB/cByJ male mice are not protected by IFN against EMC-D virus-induced IDDM. Furthermore, treatment of these two strains of mice with anti-IFN gamma-globulin before infection with EMC-B virus does not result in diabetes. These observations suggest that mechanisms other than the IFN system are involved in determining the ability of the viruses to infect and destroy beta-cells. Studies were initiated to identify other mechanisms of action. In this communication, we show that up to six times more EMC-D than EMC-B virus attaches to primary beta-cells extracted from male ICR Swiss mice. This difference in ability to attach to beta-cells may account for the difference in the diabetic potential of this mouse strain.
Kaptur
P E
PE
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wright State University College of Science and Mathematics, Dayton, Ohio 45435.
Thomas
D C
DC
Giron
D J
DJ
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D014776:Virus Cultivation
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007372:Interferons