A case of K cell deficiency with diabetes mellitus and Graves' disease.
The following immunological functions were studied in a case of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with Graves' disease: (1) Lymphocyte subpopulations, (2) mitogen response, (3) immunoglobulin producing cells by the plaque forming cell assay, (4) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and (5) natural killer activity were normal. The patient lacked antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. No conclusion could be drawn as to whether effector cells mediating natural (NK cell) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (K cell) are identical or different. However, the existence of such a case strongly suggests that the K cell is distinct from the NK cell. To resolve the question of whether or not a loss of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity plays an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus and Graves' disease, further studies on a large number of cases are necessary.
D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree