The ABBOS-peptide from bovine serum albumin causes an IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA response in lymphocytes from children with recent onset of type 1 diabetes.
The ABBOS-peptide from bovine serum albumin (BSA) in cow's milk has been suggested to initiate the autoimmune process against the beta-cells leading to type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to elucidate if the ABBOS-peptide is a possible trigger of type I diabetes. The cytokines IL-4 and IFN-gamma were determined at the level of transcription as mRNA in lymphocytes, stimulated with the ABBOS-peptide. Sixteen children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were compared with 10 healthy controls matched for the diabetes associated HLA-type DR3/4. Antibodies to bovine serum albumin (BSA), insulin antibodies (IA), and antibodies against islet cells (ICA) were determined, as well as serum C-peptide. Increased mRNA expression for IFN-gamma and/or IL-4 could be observed in lymphocytes from 13/16 children with recent onset of diabetes after in vitro stimulation with the ABBOS-peptide. Low expression of IFN-gamma mRNA was associated with high secretion of C-peptide, whereas a positive relationship could be observed between expression of IL-4 mRNA and insulin antibodies. Expression of IFN-gamma and/or IL-4 mRNA was also detected in lymphocytes from 6/10 healthy controls. ABBOS may have a role as a reactive epitope in the upregulation of the autoimmune process against the beta-cells but ABBOS does not seem to cause any specific Th1 response. An increased mRNA expression could also be seen in lymphocytes from healthy controls. Thus, the ABBOS-peptide might just cause or reflect an unspecific immune activity.
Karlsson
M G
MG
Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. maria.karlsson@kfc.liu.se
Ludvigsson
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007330:Insulin Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D002096:C-Peptide; D007330:Insulin Antibodies; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C024211:islet cell antibody; C075490:serum albumin, bovine (152-168); D015847:Interleukin-4; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D007371:Interferon-gamma