A pronounced thymic B cell deficiency in the spontaneously diabetic BB rat.
In an attempt to elucidate the origin of the T cell lymphopenia and/or the beta-cell-specific autoimmunity observed in diabetes-prone Bio-Breeding (DP-BB) rats, a thymic cDNA library was subjected to differential screening with thymic cDNA probes of DP-BB rats and nonlymphopenic nondiabetic controls. This approach resulted in the identification of a prominent lack of thymic B cells in DP-BB rats. This deficiency is distinct from a less pronounced peripheral B cell deficiency of different timing. The thymic B cell defect is linked to the lymphopenia trait on chromosome 4 and thereby with susceptibility to diabetes in crosses involving the DP-BB rat. In conclusion, our data suggest that the contribution of thymic B cells to the (negative) selection of thymocytes is inadequate in DP-BB rats, thus providing a plausible explanation for at least some of the spontaneous autoimmune phenomena in this animal model.
Tullin
S
S
Department of Immunogenetics, Hagedorn Research Institute, Gentofte, Denmark.
Farris
P
P
Petersen
J S
JS
Hornum
L
L
Jackerott
M
M
Markholst
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008231:Lymphopenia; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology