Elevated levels of a lymphocyte subset accurately predict the diabetic state in the BB rat.
The frequency of Ia antigen bearing W3/13 positive lymphocytes from the blood of 68 bio-breeding (BB) diabetes-prone rats was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies to determine whether elevated levels of these cells could predict which animals would subsequently become hyperglycemic. Selecting a value of greater than or equal to 4.00% as elevated, the sensitivity of this assay in predicting diabetes was 85%, while the specificity was 83%. We believe that elevated levels of Ia antigen bearing W3/13 positive lymphocytes reflect an ongoing immune process and accurately predict the likelihood of developing spontaneous hyperglycemia when obtained from a high risk population.
D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II