Gamma interferon induces novel expression of Ia antigens by rat pancreatic islet endocrine cells.
Pancreatic endocrine cells normally express only Class I gene products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Recently it has been shown that in both patients with recent onset type I diabetes and acutely diabetic BB rats, residual islet beta cells express Class II MHC antigens. In an attempt to define a potential inducer of this aberrant Class II antigen expression, we have investigated the effect of in vitro incubation of rat isolated pancreatic islets with the lymphokine gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) on MHC antigen expression. Our results demonstrate that in vitro exposure to IFN-gamma induces novel expression of Class II antigens on the surface of rat islet endocrine cells and increases the level of pre-existing Class I antigen expression.
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma