Expanded T cells from pancreatic lymph nodes of type 1 diabetic subjects recognize an insulin epitope

SC Kent, Y Chen, L Bregoli, SM Clemmings… - Nature, 2005 - nature.com
SC Kent, Y Chen, L Bregoli, SM Clemmings, NS Kenyon, C Ricordi, BJ Hering, DA Hafler
Nature, 2005nature.com
In autoimmune type 1 diabetes, pathogenic T lymphocytes are associated with the specific
destruction of insulin-producing β-islet cells,. Identification of the autoantigens involved in
triggering this process is a central question. Here we examined T cells from pancreatic
draining lymph nodes, the site of islet-cell-specific self-antigen presentation. We cloned
single T cells in a non-biased manner from pancreatic draining lymph nodes of subjects with
type 1 diabetes and from non-diabetic controls. A high degree of T-cell clonal expansion …
Abstract
In autoimmune type 1 diabetes, pathogenic T lymphocytes are associated with the specific destruction of insulin-producing β-islet cells,. Identification of the autoantigens involved in triggering this process is a central question. Here we examined T cells from pancreatic draining lymph nodes, the site of islet-cell-specific self-antigen presentation. We cloned single T cells in a non-biased manner from pancreatic draining lymph nodes of subjects with type 1 diabetes and from non-diabetic controls. A high degree of T-cell clonal expansion was observed in pancreatic lymph nodes from long-term diabetic patients but not from control subjects. The oligoclonally expanded T cells from diabetic subjects with DR4, a susceptibility allele for type 1 diabetes, recognized the insulin A 1–15 epitope restricted by DR4. These results identify insulin-reactive, clonally expanded T cells from the site of autoinflammatory drainage in long-term type 1 diabetics, indicating that insulin may indeed be the target antigen causing autoimmune diabetes.
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