title: Protection of non-obese diabetic mice from autoimmune diabetes by Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit.
abstract: Autoimmune diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is associated with development of inflammation around the islets at around 4-5 weeks of age, which may be prolonged until frank diabetes begins to occur around 12 weeks of age. Although many interventions can halt disease progression if administration coincides with the beginning of the anti-beta cell response, very few are able to prevent diabetes development once insulitis is established. Here we describe a strategy which blocks cellular infiltration of islets and prevents diabetes. Intranasal treatment with the B-subunit of Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin (EtxB), a protein that binds GM1 ganglioside (as well as GD1b, asialo-GM1 and lactosylceramide with lower affinities), protected NOD mice from developing diabetes in a receptor-binding dependent manner. Protection was associated with a significant reduction in the number of macrophages, CD4(+) T cells, B cells, major histocompatibility complex class II(+) cells infiltrating the islets. Despite this, treated mice showed increased number of interleukin-10(+) cells in the pancreas, and a decrease in both T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine production in the pancreatic lymph node. Disease protection was also transferred with CD4(+) splenocytes from treated mice. Taken together, these results demonstrated that EtxB is a potent immune modulator capable of blocking diabetes.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, UK. t.o.ola@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Thomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Ola
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli