MFP14, a multifunctional emerging protein with immunomodulatory properties, prevents spontaneous and recurrent autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effects of multifunctional protein 14 (MFP14), which shares structural homology with heat shock proteins (HSPs), on the development of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in NOD mice.


METHODS
MFP14 was given to euglycaemic female NOD mice from either the 4th to the 25th or from the 12th until the 35th week, or commencing one day before islet transplantation and until the reappearance of hyperglycaemia. Pancreata from NOD mice treated with multifunctional protein 14 for 14 consecutive weeks until 18 weeks of age were examined histologically for insulitis. Anti-CD3 and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced blood levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were measured by ELISA in 10 week-old female NOD mice treated for 6 consecutive weeks with either MFP14 or PBS. Unless otherwise stated, multifunctional protein 14 was administered daily 5 times a week at a dose of 25 microg. Control mice received PBS or, in selected experiments, heat-inactivated MFP14.


RESULTS
MFP 14 treated mice had a significantly lower incidence of spontaneous diabetes compared to control mice. The MFP14 was equally effective both upon early and late prophylaxis and the protection persisted until week 50 in mice treated from weeks 4 to 25. Insulitis was significantly reduced by the MFP14. The MFP14 also delayed recurrence of hyperglycaemia in syngeneic islet-transplanted NOD mice. Although MFP14 reduced anti-CD3 and/or LPS-induced blood levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-12 it increased IL-4 and IL-10.


CONCLUSIONS
The MFP14 could be a possible candidate for the prevention or early treatment of human Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.
Panerai
A E
AE
Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Italy.
Nicoletti
F
F
Sacedote
P
P
Arvidsson
L
L
Conget
I
I
Gomis
R
R
Bartorelli
A
A
Sandler
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C490787:MFP14 protein, mouse; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012260:Ribonucleases