title: T cells from BB-DP rats show a unique cytokine mRNA profile associated with the IDDM1 susceptibility gene, Lyp.
abstract: Diabetes prone biobreeding rats display several abnormalities in T cell numbers, T cell function and T cell surface phenotype which are associated with the onset of spontaneous disease. One of the most pronounced abnormalities in these animals is a marked T cell lymphopenia which is evident in both CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cell subsets. To gain a better understanding as to the nature of T cell responses in these animals, we have utilized RT-PCR to analyze the cytokine mRNA profiles of mitogen activated peripheral T cells derived from lymphopenic and non-lymphopenic animals. Our results suggest that inheritance of the lymphopenia gene, Lyp, is associated with a unique cytokine profile most similar to that previously described for mouse medullary thymocytes. In addition, cell surface staining of peripheral T cells from diabetes prone animals revealed a high frequency of Thyl+ cells, which is characteristic of both thymocytes and recent thymic emigrants. Following thymectomy, T cell responsiveness to a number of different stimuli is greatly reduced on a cell for cell basis as is the absolute number of surviving T cells. Taken collectively, our results suggest that the majority of the peripheral T cell pool in these diabetic prone rats consists of short lived, recent thymic emigrants which most likely also contain the effector cells required for initiation of diabetes.
authors: Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
authors: D P
authors: DP
authors: Gold
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Shaikewitz
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Mueller
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Redd
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Sellins
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pettersson
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lernmark
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Bellgrau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics*; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma