Transgenic mice with I-A on islet cells are normoglycemic but immunologically intolerant.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is caused by a specific loss of the insulin-producing beta cells from pancreatic Langerhans islets. It has been proposed that aberrant expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on these cells could be a triggering factor for their autoimmune destruction. This proposal was tested in transgenic mice that express allogeneic or syngeneic class II molecules on the surface of islet cells at a level comparable with that normally found on resting B lymphocytes. These animals do not develop diabetes, nor is lymphocyte infiltration of the islets observed. This immunological inactivity does not result from tolerance to the "foreign" class II molecules.
Böhme
J
J
Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Eucaryotes du CNRS--Unité 184, Institut de Chimie Biologique, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France.
Haskins
K
K
Stecha
P
P
van Ewijk
W
W
LeMeur
M
M
Gerlinger
P
P
Benoist
C
C
Mathis
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D001786:Blood Glucose; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA