Transfusions enriched for W3/25+ helper/inducer T lymphocytes prevent spontaneous diabetes in the BB/W rat

JP Mordes, DL Gallina, ES Handler, DL Greiner… - Diabetologia, 1987 - Springer
JP Mordes, DL Gallina, ES Handler, DL Greiner, N Nakamura, A Pelletier, AA Rossini
Diabetologia, 1987Springer
Transfusions of spleen cells are known to prevent spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in
susceptible BB/W rats, while T cell-depleted transfusions are ineffective. To characterize
further the protective cell (s), we transfused young diabetes prone rats with splenocytes from
diabetes resistant BB/W rats that were treated in vitro to enrich them in either OX8+
(suppressor/cytotoxic) T cells or W3/25+(helper/inducer) T cells. Diabetes subsequently
occurred in 19 of 29 (66%) recipients of OX8-enriched, W3/25-depleted cells and 20 of 37 …
Summary
Transfusions of spleen cells are known to prevent spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in susceptible BB/W rats, while T cell-depleted transfusions are ineffective. To characterize further the protective cell(s), we transfused young diabetes prone rats with splenocytes from diabetes resistant BB/W rats that were treated in vitro to enrich them in either OX8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cells or W3/25+ (helper/inducer) T cells. Diabetes subsequently occurred in 19 of 29 (66%) recipients of OX8-enriched, W3/25-depleted cells and 20 of 37 (54%) controls, but in only 7 of 30 (23%) recipients of W3/25-enriched, OX8-depleted cells (p<0.005). Transfusion of spleen cells from diabetes resistant donor rats pretreated in vivo to deplete OX8+ cells also prevented diabetes in susceptible BB/W recipients. We conclude that transfusions of W3/25+ helper/inducer splenic T lymphocytes obtained from diabetes resistant animals prevent spontaneous diabetes in the BB/W rat.
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