Anti-islet cellular and humoral immunity, T-cell subsets, and thymic function in type I diabetes.
Peripheral lymphocyte subsets were enumerated, using OKT monoclonal sera, in 56 diabetic (43 adults and 13 children) and 20 control subjects. Concomitantly, anti-islet humoral and cellular immunity was tested in vitro and serum thymulin level was measured. In the newly diagnosed patients (less than 30 days; 18 cases), the percent of OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells was reduced, the OKT8+ depletion being particularly pronounced in children. Tests for cellular immunity were positive in 83% of the newly diagnosed diabetic subjects and anti-islet cytotoxic antibodies were detected in 50%. The serum thymulin level was decreased in 2 children. Later on in the course of the disease, a marked reduction in OKT3+, OKT4+, and OKT8+ cell percentage was observed, the mean OKT4/OKT8 ratio being normal or lower than normal. The percent of antibody-positive sera rose to 64%, while anti-islet cellular immunity was detectable in 54%. When extrapancreatic manifestations of probable autoimmune nature were present, anti-islet cellular immunity was detected in 100% of cases, accompanied by cytotoxic antibodies in 54%.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) the magnitude of T-cell depletion and/or imbalance in diabetic subjects depended mainly on the duration of the disease, (2) anti-islet cellular immunity was the anomaly most frequently detectable, and (3) a decrease in serum thymulin level was infrequently detected.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001681:Biological Assay; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007328:Insulin; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating