Target cell expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 prevents diabetes in the NOD mouse.
Although lymphocyte infiltration and islet destruction are hallmarks of diabetes, the mechanisms of beta-cell destruction are not fully understood. One issue that remains unresolved is whether cytokines play a direct role in beta-cell death. We investigated whether beta-cell cytokine signaling contributes to autoimmune type 1 diabetes. We demonstrated that NOD mice harboring beta-cells expressing the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), an inhibitor of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling, have a markedly reduced incidence of diabetes. Similar to their non-transgenic (Tg) littermates, SOCS-1-Tg mice develop insulitis and their splenocytes transfer disease to NODscid recipients. Disease protection correlates with suppression of cytokine-induced STAT-1 phosphorylation in SOCS-1-expressing beta-cells and with a reduced sensitivity of these cells to destruction by diabetogenic cells in vivo. Interestingly, lymphocytes recruited to the pancreas of SOCS-1-Tg mice transferred diabetes to NODscid recipients with a reduced efficiency, suggesting that the pancreatic environment in SOCS-1-Tg mice does not support the maintenance of functionally differentiated T-cells. These results suggest that cytokines contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes by acting directly on the target beta-cell. Importantly, given that the SOCS-1-expressing mouse maintain normal blood glucose levels throughout life, this study also showed that SOCS-1 expression by beta-cells can represent a promising strategy to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Flodström-Tullberg
Malin
M
Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Yadav
Deepak
D
Hägerkvist
Robert
R
Tsai
Devin
D
Secrest
Patrick
P
Stotland
Alexandr
A
Sarvetnick
Nora
N
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C491590:Socs1 protein, mouse; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D007371:Interferon-gamma