title: Reduced IFN-alpha secretion by blood dendritic cells in human diabetes.
abstract: Characterization of dendritic cells (DC) in human diabetes has been restricted to monocyte-derived DC in type 1 diabetes, whose physiological relevance to endogenous DC is uncertain. Here, we provide the first report characterizing the phenotype and function of endogenous DC subsets in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We show that DC subsets in each diabetic group exhibit normal properties concerning frequency and activation state, as determined using 4-color flow cytometry of whole blood cells. DC maturation is also intact as confirmed by their efficacious ability to stimulate T cell proliferation in an allogeneic MLR assay. Yet we found that DC are poor producers of IFN-alpha (P < 0.05) in human diabetes. IFN-alpha is a potent antiviral agent and therefore its reduced levels may interfere with T cell-mediated immune responses leading to increased susceptibility and persistence of infections in persons with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marleau
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hramiak
authors.forename: Bhagirath
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha