title: Deficiency of suppressor T-cells in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: an analysis with monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Peripheral blood from 25 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was examined for any alteration in the proportions and or functions of immunoregulatory T-cell subsets, defined with monoclonal antibodies. Ten of 25 (40%) patients demonstrated deficiency of OKT8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) T-cells. Eight of these 10 patients had abnormally high ratios of OKT4+/OKT8+ T-cells. Nine of 10 patients with abnormally low proportion of OKT8+ T-cells had deficient concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity against the proliferative response of autologous or allogeneic lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin. No correlation was observed between the deficiency of suppressor T-cells and the control of diabetes. Therefore, it is likely that the deficiency of suppressor cells is related to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus itself and not to the metabolic changes that are associated with diabetes mellitus. This study demonstrates both quantitative and qualitative deficiency of suppressor T-cells in at least some patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, that might play an important role in the pathogenesis and autoimmune manifestations of a proportion of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002648:Child; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003208:Concanavalin A