title: Phenotype and functional characteristics of islet-infiltrating B-cells suggest the existence of immune regulatory mechanisms in islet milieu.
abstract: B-cells participate in the autoimmune response that precedes the onset of type 1 diabetes, but how these cells contribute to disease progression is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype and functional characteristics of islet-infiltrating B-cells in the diabetes-prone NOD mouse and in the insulitis-prone but diabetes-resistant (NOD x NOR)F1 mouse. The results indicate that B-cells accumulate in the islets of both mice influenced by sex traits. Phenotypically and functionally, these B-cells are highly affected by the islet inflammatory milieu, which may keep them in a silenced status. Moreover, although islet-infiltrating B-cells seem to be antigen experienced, they can only induce islet-infiltrating T-cell proliferation when they act as accessory cells. Thus, these results strongly suggest that islet-infiltrating B-cells do not activate islet-infiltrating T-cells in situ, although they may affect the progression of the disease otherwise.
authors: Unit of Immunology, Departament de Ciencies Mediques Basiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida, Carrer Montserrat Roig 2, 25008 Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Maria Carmen
authors: MC
authors: Puertas
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Carrillo
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Pastor
authors: Rosa Maria
authors: RM
authors: Ampudia
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Alba
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Planas
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Pujol-Borrell
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Vives-Pi
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Verdaguer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines