Interleukin-1 beta regulation of islet and thyroid autoimmunity in the BB rat

J Autoimmun. 1991 Oct;4(5):717-32. doi: 10.1016/0896-8411(91)90168-c.

Abstract

Daily injections of high dose human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) accelerated the onset of both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and lymphocytic thyroiditis in genetically prone BB rats. In diabetes-resistant BB rats, high dose IL-1 beta failed to induce diabetes. Additionally, the presence of neutralizing IL-1 beta antibodies in these rats strongly correlated with inhibition of lymphocytic thyroiditis. Since low dose IL-1 beta protects diabetes-prone rats from IDDM, we conclude that IL-1 beta is a potent modulator of autoimmune diabetes and thyroid disease in genetically susceptible rats.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / anatomy & histology
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Germ-Free Life
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / immunology*
  • Kidney / anatomy & histology
  • Male
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Pancreas / anatomy & histology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred BB
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Spleen / anatomy & histology
  • Thymus Gland / anatomy & histology
  • Thyroid Gland / anatomy & histology
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology*
  • Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / chemically induced
  • Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / immunology
  • Thyroxine / blood

Substances

  • Interleukin-1
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Thyroxine