title: NKT cell cytokine imbalance in murine diabetes mellitus.
abstract: A minor subset of murine MHC class I-restricted T cells which express both the alphabeta form of the T cell receptor and a NK lineage marker, termed NKT cells, is capable of secreting significant amounts of Interleukin-4 and Interferon-y upon activation. As such NKT cells may play a role in development of Th1 and Th2 cells during T cell ontogeny or expansion of T cells expressing a dominant cytokine pattern in the effector phase. We have studied the role of NKT cells in a murine model of disease multidose streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus (MDSDM). In MDSDM thymic and splenic NKT cells are present at normal levels but have greatly reduced capacity to secrete Interleukin-4 upon stimulation with anti-TCR antibody compared to control mice; conversely, Interferon-y secretion is maintained. By analysis of cytokine RNA production we found that treatment of several strains of mice with streptozotocin changes the peripheral helper T cell phenotype elicited after immunization with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin from a mixed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine pattern (characterized by IFN-gamma and IL-4 and IL-5 expressions, respectively) to predominately Th1-type. Furthermore, susceptibility to MDSDM is significantly enhanced when NKT cells are selectively eliminated in vivo by administration of depleting anti-CD122 antibody TMbeta-1. In addition, antibody depletion of NKT cells from non-obese diabetic mice significantly accelerates onset of disease. Collectively these data support a model for development of murine diabetes mellitus in which NKT cell cytokine expression influences the development of Th1-type diabetogenic T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016, USA. freya01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013311:Streptozocin; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D013311:Streptozocin; D007371:Interferon-gamma