GAD65-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Mediate Beta-Cell Death and Loss of Function

AUTOR(ES)

Rasche, Sarah

FONTE

SBDR - Society for Biomedical Diabetes Research

RESUMO

Autoimmunity to islet cell antigens like glutamic acid decarboxylase 65kD (GAD65) is associated with the destruction of insulin-producing β-cells and progression to type 1 diabetes (T1D) in NOD mice and humans. T cell responses to GAD65 are detectable in the spleen of prediabetic NOD mice and in the peripheral blood of humans prior to the onset of overt hyperglycemia. Previous findings from our lab revealed that GAD65546-554-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are present in naïve NOD mice and are able to induce islet inflammation upon adoptive transfer into NOD.scid recipients. Additionally, we found that professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) generate the p546-554 epitope from a soluble GAD65 fragment, p530-554, and from GAD65 released by injured β-cells in vivo. Here, we report that the GAD65 fragment p546-554 is a dominant CTL-inducing epitope which is naturally processed and presented by a GAD65-expressing β-cell line. Further, co-culture of GAD65546-554-specific CTL with the β-cells leads to a reduction in insulin production and the induction of perforin-mediated cell death. Collectively, these findings support a role for the cross-presentation of GAD65 antigen in the priming and enhancement of dominant GAD65-specific CTL responses, which can directly target β-cells that display GAD65 epitopes.

Documentos Relacionados

• Regulation of beta-cell glucose transporter gene expression.
• Stimulation of pancreatic islet beta-cell replication by oncogenes.
• T-cell tolerance toward a transgenic beta-cell antigen and transcription of endogenous pancreatic genes in thymus.
• Importance of islet cell synchrony for the beta-cell glucose response.
• Pancreatic beta-cell replication and amelioration of surgical diabetes by Reg protein.