Peptide therapy for diabetes in NOD mice.
NOD mice spontaneously develop autoimmune diabetes that mimics insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in man. A peptide of the 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp60), designated p277, can serve as a target for diabetogenic T-cell clones, and diabetes was prevented by using the p277 peptide to turn off anti-p277 immunity early in life. We report that the p277 peptide, administered once, can arrest the autoimmune process even after it is far advanced. Successful therapy was associated with down-regulation of the autoimmune process and regression of islet inflammation. Thus the immune system is responsive to manipulation by a specific signal even in the face of a virulent, full-blown autoimmune process.
Elias
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Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Cohen
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IR
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins