T-lymphocyte requirement for diabetes in RT6-depleted diabetes-resistant BB rats

Diabetes. 1991 Apr;40(4):423-8. doi: 10.2337/diab.40.4.423.

Abstract

Diabetes-prone (DP) BB rats develop spontaneous autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The cell populations involved in the expression of diabetes are not precisely known but probably include natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. Because the DP rat has few lymphocytes of the CD5+/CD+ phenotype, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc) are not believed to be important in the process. Diabetes-resistant (DR) BB rats that are depleted of RT6+ T lymphocytes also become diabetic and provide an additional model of IDDM. We report that diabetes in DR rats depleted of RT6+ T lymphocytes is prevented by the concomitant depletion of either the CD5+ or the CD8+ population. In contrast, coadministration of anti-asialogangliosideM1 (alpha-ASGM1), an antiserum that principally recognizes NK cells, failed to prevent hyperglycemia in RT6-depleted rats. We propose that the initiation of diabetes in both DP and RT6-depleted DR rats is T-lymphocyte dependent. However, the final common pathway leading to autoimmune beta-cell destruction in IDDM may be different in these models. The RT6-depleted DR rat requires a cell that is sensitive to anti-CD8 (possibly a Tc), whereas the DP rat requires an anti-ASGM1-sensitive cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ADP Ribose Transferases*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • CD5 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Phenotype
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred BB
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CD5 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • ADP Ribose Transferases
  • Art2b protein, rat