NK3-like NK cells are involved in protective effect of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid on type 1 diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.
Type 1 diabetes in NOD mice is characterized by the uncontrolled Th1 immune responses and deficiency of regulatory or suppressor cells. Previous study has shown that NOD mice treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) have a markedly reduced incidence of diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we report that the prevention of diabetes by poly(I:C) is associated with the formation of Th2-enriched environment in spleen and pancreas. We further show that the prevention of diabetes and the formation of Th2-enriched environment depend on the presence of NK cells. Long-term poly(I:C)-treated NK cells exhibit a NK3-like phenotype, and are involved in the induction of Th2 bias of spleen cells in response to islet autoantigens via TGF-beta-dependent manner. Therefore, NK cells mediate the protective effect of poly(I:C) possibly through the promotion of Th2 bias of immune responses. These findings suggest that NK cells can participate in the regulation of autoimmune diabetes.
Zhou
Rongbin
R
Institute of Immunology, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Wei
Haiming
H
Tian
Zhigang
Z
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001324:Autoantigens; D011070:Poly I-C