title: The sentinel role of CD8 T cells in regulating CD4 T cell responses to proinsulin in beta-islet cell autoimmunity.
abstract: Circulating CD4 T cells specific for peptide epitopes of proinsulin and other autoantigens are markers of autoimmune beta cell destruction in type 1 diabetes, while the role of CD8 T cells is still largely unknown. Here we show that CD8 T cells of a diabetic patient--after rechallange with proinsulin peptides--secrete IFNgamma and granzyme B, markers of their effector capacity. On the other hand, CD8 T cells of the same patient in a "cross-talk" with proinsulin-specific CD4 T cells suppress their proliferation. If confirmed in larger numbers of subjects with beta-islet cell autoimmunity, these results may help us to understand the role of CD8 cells in disease progression and extend our knowledge of disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Internal Clinic, University Hospital Sisters of Charity, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Batarelo
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Durinovic-Belló
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011384:Proinsulin