Initiation of autoimmune type 1 diabetes and molecular cloning of a gene encoding for islet cell-specific 37kd autoantigen.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is believed to be an autoimmune disease, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the islets and the presence of islet cell autoantibodies. Autoimmunity may result from an intrinsically abnormal immune system, primary alterations of the target beta cell or both. However, the initial event that causes the beta cell-specific autoimmunity remains unknown. Our recent experimental results showed that islet grafts from neonatal BB rats remained intact without insulitis when transplanted into the renal subcapsular space of acutely diabetic BB rats. In contrast, islet grafts from adult BB rats (which had been treated with silica for the prevention of insulitis) revealed severe insulitis and were rapidly destroyed. These results suggest that the delayed expression of a beta cell-specific autoantigen may result in the initiation of beta cell-specific autoimmunity. The islet cell-specific 37 kd autoantigen is not expressed early in the life of BB rats, but is expressed at around 30 days of age. This islet-specific autoantigen might be recognized and attacked by the immune effectors. In contrast, nondiabetic Wistar Furth rats express the autoantigen from birth.
Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, University of Calgary, Alberta.
H S
HS
Jun
J W
JW
Yoon
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005796:Genes; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C089731:islet 37k antigen; D012822:Silicon Dioxide