In vitro stimulation by islet antigen facilitates the detectability of beta-cell reactive cells in diabetes-prone BB/OK rats.

It has been supposed that beta-cell destruction in man and animals is due to autoreactive T-cells. We used the [51Cr]-release assay to identify the presence of beta-cell reactive cells in the spleen of diabetes-prone BB/OK rats before and after diabetes manifestation as well as in long-term normoglycaemic rats with a reduced diabetes risk of 3%. Splenic mononuclear cells (MNCs) obtained from diabetes-resistant LEW.1W and the majority of long-term normoglycaemic BB/OK rats (86.4%) showed no reactivity to pancreatic islets in vitro. In contrast, beta-cell reactive cells were identified in dependence on age in 30.4-65.0% of 75-120 days old normoglycaemic rats and in relation to diabetes duration (1 and 20 days) in 75.0% and 16.0% of diabetic BB/OK rats. Islet antigen-specific stimulation of splenic MNCs, that showed no spontaneous islet-directed reactivity, resulted in a concentration-dependent activation of cytolytically reactive cells in BB/OK but not in LEW.1W rats. Splenic MNCs derived from all diabetic, from 82.4% of young normoglycaemic and from 46.2% of long-term normoglycaemic BB/OK rats developed an islet-directed reactivity in vitro. Phenotyping of MNCs showed a significant increase of activated IL2R+ T-lymphocytes in diabetic BB/OK rats, but without any correlation to their cytolytic potential in the [51Cr]-release assay. Despite this fact, IL2R+ cells enriched from the pool of MNCs mediated an enhanced [51Cr]-release from islets, indicating their relevance in the beta-cell destruction. These data suggest, that functional reactivity rather than phenotypic characterization of MNCs is useful to identify the existence of beta-cell reactive cells. Furthermore, for screening diabetes risk in young normoglycaemic BB/OK rats besides the detection of beta-cell reactive cells the occurrence of regulatory cells seems to be decisive.     

Diabetes mellitus in the BB/W rat. Insulitis in pancreatic islet grafts after transplantation in diabetic recipients.

Spontaneous diabetes mellitus in the BioBreeding/Worcester (BB/W) rat is preceded by lymphocytic insulitis which destroys pancreatic beta cells. Cultured major histocompatibility complex identical pancreatic islets and adrenal cortex derived from diabetes-resistant BB/W donors were transplanted into diabetic recipients with hyperglycemia of variable duration. Islet grafts were the targets of BB/W immune attack and revealed lymphocytic insulitis after transplantation into diabetic recipients even in the absence of insulitis within endogenous pancreatic islets. These findings suggest that the BB/W immune attack on pancreatic beta cells can recur in islet grafts long after the onset of the diabetic syndrome.     

Four epitopes on the rat 55-kDa subunit of the interleukin 2 receptor as defined by newly developed mouse anti-rat interleukin 2 receptor monoclonal antibodies

Four new mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb), ART-38, ART-35, ART-75 and ART-94, directed against the rat interleukin 2 receptor (IL 2R) have been developed. As shown by immunoprecipitation studies they all recognize specifically the 55-kDa subunit of the rat IL 2R. These mAb were compared to three previously characterized mouse mAb directed against the 55-kDa molecule of the rat IL 2R, namely the ART-18, ART-65 and OX-39 mAb. Out of all seven mAb, only ART-18 and OX-39 were found to inhibit the IL 2 binding to activated T cells, while IL 2R inhibited the binding of ART-18 alone. ART-18 was the only mAb found to inhibit the IL 2-dependent proliferation of cells carrying the IL 2R. Scatchard plot analyses showed gross differences in the numbers of mAb-binding sites ranging between 30,000 (ART-65) and 165,000 (ART-75) as well as in their affinities which ranged between 2.5 X 10(-9) M (ART-38) and 8.3 X 10(-10) M (OX-39). Cross inhibition studies revealed that the mAb recognize four different epitopes on the 55-kDa rat IL 2R subunit.     

Prophylactic insulin treatment of diabetes-prone BB/OK rats by application of a sustained release insulin implant

Normoglycemic diabetes-prone BB/OK rats aged 33, 45 or 75 days were subjected to prophylactic insulin treatment by means of a single subcutaneous application of a sustained release insulin implant. The single application of a sustained release insulin implant decreased the incidence of diabetes or delayed the onset of the disease in BB/OK rats of all treatment groups. Prophylactic insulin administration caused a transient hypoglycemic period accompanied by an inhibition of glucose stimulated insulin secretion and a decrease of the insulin content of Langerhans' islets as detectable in vitro. Compared to islets of normoglycemic controls pancreatic islets isolated from hypoglycemic BB/OK rats within 7-21 days after the insulin application at 45 days of age displayed a decreased susceptibility of the cells to complement-dependent cytotoxicity of the monoclonal islet cell surface antibody (ICSA) K14D10 but not to the cytotoxic effect of the ICSA M3aG8. The appearance of complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity to islet cells and pancreatic exocrine cells in serum regarded as a sign of immune dysregulation in BB/OK rats seems not to be affected by insulin prophylaxis and was detectable during hypoglycemia as well as in the subsequent normoglycemic state. In conclusion, BB/OK rats of different age can be protected from diabetes by a single application of a sustained release insulin implant. Insulin and/or hypoglycemia seem to influence the expression of cell surface antigens, thus render the islets of Langerhans less vulnerable to immune cytolysis, whereas the appearance of humoral immunological abnormalites is not affected.     

Prophylactic Insulin Treatment of Diabetes-prone BB/OK Rats by Application of a Sustained Release Insulin Implant

Normoglycemic diabetes-prone BB/OK rats aged 33, 45 or 75 days were subjected to prophylactic insulin treatment by means of a single subcutaneous application of a sustained release insulin implant. The single application of a sustained release insulin implant decreased the incidence of diabetes or delayed the onset of the disease in BB/OK rats of all treatment groups. Prophylactic insulin administration caused a transient hypoglycemic period accompanied by an inhibition of glucose stimulated insulin secretion and a decrease of the insulin content of Langerhans' islets as detectable in vitro . Compared to islets of normoglycemic controls pancreatic islets isolated from hypoglycemic BB/OK rats within 7-21 days after the insulin application at 45 days of age displayed a decreased susceptibility of the cells to complement-dependent cytotoxicity of the monoclonal islet cell surface antibody (ICSA) K14D10 but not to the cytotoxic effect of the ICSA M3aG8. The appearance of complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity to islet cells and pancreatic exocrine cells in serum regarded as a sign of immune dysregulation in BB/OK rats seems not to be affected by insulin prophylaxis and was detectable during hypoglycemia as well as in the subsequent normoglycemic state. In conclusion, BB/OK rats of different age can be protected from diabetes by a single application of a sustained release insulin implant. Insulin and/or hypoglycemia seem to influence the expression of cell surface antigens, thus render the islets of Langerhans less vulnerable to immune cytolysis, whereas the appearance of humoral immunological abnormalites is not affected.     

Complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity in the spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rat: association with beta cell volume density

The present study examined in the spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rat whether a relationship exists between the appearance of complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity (C'AMC) in serum and the relative beta cell volume density determined in pancreatic biopsies. C'AMC was estimated by 51Cr release from prelabeled major histocompatibility complex-compatible neonatal rat islet cells after exposure to rat serum and rabbit complement. Fifty-one percent (72/141) of sera from BB/OK rats with newly diagnosed diabetes were positive for C'AMC. At onset of hyperglycemia, insulin-immunoreactive beta cells were only detectable in pancreas biopsies of 25% (10/40) of the BB/OK rats who displayed mild hyperglycemia (plasma glucose 8.3-13.0 mmol/l) and low serum C'AMC. A twofold increase (p less than 0.01) of C'AMC and loss of the remaining beta cells was evident in untreated animals upon their reexamination within 1 week after diagnosis of hyperglycemia. Initiation of insulin therapy prevented neither the increase in C'AMC activity nor the decrease in the beta cell volume density. In contrast, three out of four mildly hyperglycemic BB/OK rats treated with cyclosporin A maintained both their initial C'AMC levels and relative beta cell volume density not only throughout the treatment period (4 weeks) but also for at least 4 weeks thereafter. In one additional animal receiving cyclosporin A no protection of the remaining beta cells could be achieved and C'AMC levels were markedly increased. It is concluded that the appearance of increased C'AMC in serum may reflect autoimmune reactions against the islet beta cells of spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats. The increase of C'AMC seen in untreated as well as insulin-treated BB/OK rats, which were even devoid of beta cells, suggests that C'AMC activity appears secondary to the loss of beta cells. These results do not support the hypothesis of a direct beta cell destruction via intrainsular complement activation.     

Curing BB rats of freshly manifested diabetes by short-term treatment with a combination of a monoclonal anti-interleukin 2 receptor antibody and a subtherapeutic dose of cyclosporin A

The BioBreeding (BB) rat develops spontaneously a syndrome resembling human type I diabetes mellitus. The short-term treatment of newly diagnosed diabetic BB rats with the anti-interleukin 2 receptor (IL 2R) monoclonal antibody ART-18 in combination with a subtherapeutic dose of cyclosporin A for 10 days, a treatment shown previously to eliminate specifically antigen-activated IL2R+ T lymphocytes by sparing suppressor cells, resulted in normoglycemia in 70% of the animals, the maintenance of B cell volume density and an increase in pancreatic insulin content. Moreover, the glucose tolerance of successfully treated animals was not significantly different from that of normoglycemic BB rats during the whole observation period (up to 120 days after the end of the therapy). This is the first report on successful treatment of a spontaneous autoimmune disease by a short-term and specific immunosuppressive regimen with limited side effects.     

Endocrine pancreas histology of congenic BB-rat strains with reduced diabetes incidence after genetic manipulation on chromosomes 4, 6 and X

Congenic BB.SHR rat strains were established by crossing of spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats and diabetes-resistant SHR rats. Chromosomal regions on which the genes Iddm 4 (BB.6s), Iddm6 (BB.Xs) and Iddm 2 (BB.LL) are located were exchanged. As a result of genetic manipulation diabetes incidence was markedly reduced from 80% in BB/OK to 50% in BB.SHR (Chr. X), to 14% in BB.SHR (Chr. 6) and to 0% in BB.LL rats. Pancreata of these newly generated BB.SHR rats were investigated histologically. In newly diagnosed diabetic rats of congenic strains pancreatic insulin content (BB.6s: p < 0.05; BB.Xs p < 0.01) and relative volume of insulin-positive cells (BB.Xs: p < 0.001) were significantly higher than in BB/OK rats. The degree of insulitis was not different in 90-day-old and newly diagnosed diabetic animals. Surprisingly, in 30-day-old rats we observed an increase of the degree of insulitis with decreasing diabetes incidence. We suppose that by an earlier occurrence of the immunological beta-cell destruction, a part of the animals is able to develop a secondary diabetes resistance. The exchange of the BB-lymphopenia gene by that of SHR-rats prevented the development of hyperglycaemia without altering the auto-reactive immune response, which could be observed in all animals investigated.     

Antioxidant enzyme activity and mRNA expression in the islets of Langerhans from the BB/S rat model of type 1 diabetes and an insulin-producing cell line

It has been proposed that low activities of antioxidant enzymes in pancreatic beta cells may increase their susceptibility to autoimmune attack. We have therefore used the spontaneously diabetic BB/S rat model of type 1 diabetes to compare islet catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in diabetes-prone and diabetes-resistant animals. In parallel studies, we employed the RINm5F beta cell line as a model system (previously validated) to investigate whether regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity by inflammatory mediators (cytokines, nitric oxide) occurs at the gene or protein expression level. Diabetes-prone rat islets had high insulin content at the age used (58–65 days) but showed increased amounts of DNA damage when subjected to cytokine or hydrogen peroxide treatments. There was clear evidence of oxidative damage in freshly isolated rat islets from diabetes-prone animals and significantly lower catalase and superoxide dismutase activities than in islets from age-matched diabetes-resistant BB/S and control Wistar rats. The mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes in islets from diabetes-prone and diabetes-resistant BB/S rats and in RINm5F cells, treated with a combination of cytokines or a nitric oxide donor, DETA-NO, was analysed semi-quantitatively by real time PCR. The mRNA expression of catalase was lower, whereas MnSOD expression was higher, in diabetes-prone compared to diabetes-resistant BB/S rat islets, suggesting regulation at the level of gene expression as well as of the activities of these enzymes in diabetes. The protein expression of catalase, CuZnSOD and MnSOD was assessed by Western blotting and found to be unchanged in DETA-NO treated cells. Protein expression of MnSOD was increased by cytokines in RINm5F cells whereas the expression of CuZnSOD was slightly decreased and the level of catalase protein was unchanged. We conclude that there are some changes, mostly upregulation, in protein expression but no decreases in the mRNA expression of catalase, CuZnSOD or MnSOD enzymes in beta cells treated with either cytokines or DETA-NO. The lower antioxidant enzyme activities observed in islets from diabetes-prone BB/S rats could be a factor in the development of disease and in susceptibility to DNA damage in vitro and could reflect islet alterations prior to immune attack or inherent differences in the islets of diabetes-prone animals, but are not likely to result from cytokine or nitric oxide exposure in vivo at that stage.     

Endocrine Pancreas Histology of Congenic BB-Rat Strains with Reduced Diabetes Incidence After Genetic Manipulation on Chromosomes 4, 6 and X

Congenic BB.SHR rat strains were established by crossing of spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats and diabetes-resistant SHR rats. Chromosomal regions on which the genes Iddm 4 (BB.6s), Iddm6 (BB.Xs) and Iddm 2 (BB.LL) are located were exchanged. As a result of genetic manipulation diabetes incidence was markedly reduced from 80% in BB/OK to 50% in BB.SHR (Chr. X), to 14% in BB.SHR (Chr. 6) and to 0% in BB.LL rats. Pancreata of these newly generated BB.SHR rats were investigated histologically. In newly diagnosed diabetic rats of congenic strains pancreatic insulin content (BB.6s: p<0.05; BB.Xs p<0.01) and relative volume of insulin-positive cells (BB.Xs: p<0.001) were significantly higher than in BB/OK rats. The degree of insulitis was not different in 90-day-old and newly diagnosed diabetic animals. Surprisingly, in 30-day-old rats we observed an increase of the degree of insulitis with decreasing diabetes incidence. We suppose that by an earlier occurrence of the immunological β-cell destruction, a part of the animals is able to develop a secondary diabetes resistance. The exchange of the BB-lymphopenia gene by that of SHR-rats prevented the development of hyperglycaemia without altering the auto-reactive immune response, which could be observed in all animals investigated.     

A pancreatic venular defect in the BB/Wor rat.

BB rats develop spontaneous autoimmune diabetes mellitus characterized morphologically by insulitis, an inflammatory lymphocytic infiltration of the islets of Langerhans. To investigate the role of the vascular endothelium of the pancreas in this destructive process, the authors injected diabetes-prone (DP) and diabetes-resistant (DR) BB/Wor rats as well as other nondiabetic strains of rats with Monastral blue B, a colloidal pigment that identifies leaky microvasculature. They found evidence of a venular defect limited to the pancreas that is specific to the BB rat. Light- and electron-microscopic evidence suggests that this defect is due to a population of trapped (marginating) intravascular monocytes, which may be activated by the colloidal pigment and release vasoactive mediators.     

Alleles of diabetes-resistant BN rats contribute to insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes in the biobreeding (BB) rat results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells and thereby it is sharing many features with human type 1 diabetes. Independent crossing studies have demonstrated that diabetes in the BB rat is explained by at least three recessively acting genes termed Iddm1 (major histocompatibility complex), Iddm2 (lymphopenia), Iddm3 (unknown). About 50% of Iddm1 and Iddm2 homozygous first backcross hybrids (BC1) usually develop diabetes. However, 75% of these homozygotes become diabetic when using diabetic BB/HRI and diabetes-resistant BN/Mol rats. That prompted us to carry out a cross between BB/OK and BN/Crl rats in order to localise diabetogenic gene(s) of BB and/or BN rats.Fifty nine Iddm1 and Iddm2 homozygous [(BNxBB)F1xBB] BC1 hybrids (35 M, 24 F) were observed for diabetes occurrence up to an age of 30 weeks. All hybrids were used in a genome-wide scan carried out with 238 microsatellite markers covering about 92% of the genome.Significantly more Iddm1 and Iddm2 homozygous BC1 hybrids became diabetic (69 vs. 50%, p<0.003) with an age at onset of 91+/-31 days. Significant deviations from expected allele distribution between diabetic and non-diabetic BC1 hybrids were found at loci on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 19, with the strongest effect observed at locus D10Mgh2, where more heterozygous (91%) than homozygous diabetics (44%) were found. We conclude that BN rats possess more than one gene contributing to type 1 diabetes development.     

Stress response of pancreatic islets from diabetes prone BB rats of different age

Protective and/or repair mechanisms are thought to be activated in pancreatic beta cells in response to injury during insulitis. Manifestation of type-1 diabetes may depend on an imbalance between beta cell damage and repair. To prove this hypothesis, the ability of collagenase-isolated islets to respond to heat stress depending on the age of BB rats was investigated. The islets were exposed either to 44 degrees C (HS) or 37 degrees C (control) for 30 min and then kept at 37 degrees C for 5 h. Immediately and 5 h after heat shock, insulin secretion in response to 20 mmol/l glucose and total protein synthesis of heat-exposed islets were significantly diminished as compared with controls. The islet proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. Islets from BB rats at an age of 6-90 days responded to heat shock with the expression of major heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70). Islets from 3-day old rats, however, did not respond with induction of HSP 70. In contrast we could detect inducible HSP 70 in islets from 3-day old diabetes-resistant LEW rats. In islets from 90-day old BB rats we observed a decreased amount of HSP 70 compared with islets from 9-, 12-, 30- and 60-day old animals. There was also a higher extent of HSP 70 to observe in islets from 90-day old LEW rats as compared with 90-day old BB rats. Differences in HSP 70 expression between islets of 3-day old BB and LEW rats and other age groups of BB rats might represent distinct stages of maturation of islets whereas diminished expression of HSP 70 in islets of 90-day old BB rats at the age of high probability of developing diabetes might result from reduced ability to induce protective mechanisms.     

Involvement of dendritic cells in early insulitis of BB rats.

In this study, subsets of mononuclear infiltrates in pancreatic islets of BB rats at different stages of insulitis were determined by various monoclonal antibodies against rat lymphoid cells, including a mouse monoclonal IgM antibody that distinguishes between macrophages and dendritic cells (mAb 1F119). 1F119+ dendritic cells were absent in and around islets of Wistar control rats. In BB rats, the first alteration of islets detectable by immunohistochemistry when compared with normal islets was the enhanced expression of 1F119 antigen around and in the islets (17% 1F119+ islets). At disease stage 1 (i.e. no leukocyte infiltration after HE staining), lymphocytes and macrophages were almost absent. At disease stage 2 (leukocyte infiltration < 20 cells), a more intense form of dendritic cell infiltration was seen (stage 1 versus stage 2, P < 0.0001). In addition, ED2+ and ED3+ cells were present around the islets (50% of islets were infiltrated with 1F119+ cells versus 16% with ED2+, 19% with ED3+, 11% with W3/25+ cells, and 11% with OX8+ cells, P < 0.0001). At disease stage 3 (> 20 cells), a clear increase of ED2+ and ED3+ macrophages and of W3/25+ and OX8+ T-lymphocytes in the infiltrates was observed. These observations suggest a role for antigen presenting dendritic cells in the initiation of immune reaction in type 1 diabetes of BB rats.     

Stress Response of Pancreatic Islets from Diabetes Prone BB Rats of Different Age

Protective and/or repair mechanisms are thought to be activated in pancreatic beta cells in response to injury during insulitis. Manifestation of type-1 diabetes may depend on an imbalance between beta cell damage and repair. To prove this hypothesis, the ability of collagenase-isolated islets to respond to heat stress depending on the age of BB rats was investigated. The islets were exposed either to 44°C (HS) or 37°C (control) for 30 min and then kept at 37°C for 5 h. Immediately and 5 h after heat shock, insulin secretion in response to 20 mmol/l glucose and total protein synthesis of heat-exposed islets were significantly diminished as compared with controls. The islet proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. Islets from BB rats at an age of 6-90 days responded to heat shock with the expression of major heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70). Islets from 3-day old rats, however, did not respond with induction of HSP 70. In contrast we could detect inducible HSP 70 in islets from 3-day old diabetes-resistant LEW rats. In islets from 90-day old BB rats we observed a decreased amount of HSP 70 compared with islets from 9-, 12-, 30- and 60-day old animals. There was also a higher extent of HSP 70 to observe in islets from 90-day old LEW rats as compared with 90-day old BB rats. Differences in HSP 70 expression between islets of 3-day old BB and LEW rats and other age groups of BB rats might represent distinct stages of maturation of islets whereas diminished expression of HSP 70 in islets of 90-day old BB rats at the age of high probability of developing diabetes might result from reduced ability to induce protective mechanisms.     

Prevention of autoimmune but not allogeneic destruction of grafted islets by different therapeutic strategies

Grafting autoimmune-diabetic recipients with allogeneic islets, graft rejection and disease recurrence as major problems of reaching indefinite survival and tolerance induction have to be solved. Anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies were successfully used after allogeneic islet transplantation in experimentally diabetic rats. A temporary anti-CD25 therapy also prevented disease recurrence in autoimmune-diabetic BB rats, while this was not yet reported for an anti-CD4 treatment. In autoimmune-diabetic NOD mice disease recurrence can be successfully treated using an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. We, therefore, compared the efficacy of a short-term anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 treatment regarding the prevention of allograft rejection and disease recurrence in autoimmune-diabetic BB/OK rats. Both monoclonal antibodies were combined with low doses of Cyclosporin A. Untreated BB/OK rats relapsed into hyperglycaemia within 3 weeks independent of the islet donor, LEW.1A, LEW.1BB/OK or BB/OK rats. However, after grafting MHC-identical allogeneic (LEW.1BB/OK) or syngeneic (BB/OK) islets we observed about 30% spontaneous acceptance. Both the anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 therapy significantly prolonged the survival of allogeneic grafted islets. After MHC-identical allogeneic and syngeneic islet transplantation the temporary immunotherapy increased the proportion of permanent acceptors to 63% and 75%, respectively. The efficacy of both treatment strategies in prolonging allograft survival and prevention of disease recurrence was identical. In summary, anti-CD25 as well as anti-CD4 therapy prevented autoimmune but not allogeneic islet destruction in autoimmune-diabetic BB/OK rats. In conclusion, targeting different immune cells by monoclonal antibodies with different specificities can lead to very similar results with respect to an interruption of allograft rejection and autoimmune reaction.     

Blocking of interleukin 2 (IL 2) binding to the IL 2 receptor is not required for the in vivo action of anti-IL 2 receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb). I. The production, characterization and in vivo properties of a new mouse anti-rat IL 2 receptor mAb that reacts with an epitope different to the one that binds to IL 2 and the mAb ART-18

A mouse anti-rat interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptor (IL 2R) monoclonal antibody (mAb), ART-65, has been developed. As shown by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and immunoprecipitation studies, ART-65 recognizes in a species-specific manner the same molecule as does ART-18, a mAb which has been shown previously to recognize the rat receptor for IL 2. ART-65 and ART-18 do not competitively inhibit the binding of each other to activated T cells. ART-65, in contrast to ART-18, does not inhibit the binding of IL 2 to cells nor does it have any inhibitory effect in vitro on IL 2-driven proliferation of rat T lymphoblasts. Therefore, ART-65 is another mAb recognizing the rat IL 2 receptor, but binding to an epitope distinct from that recognized by either IL 2 or ART-18. We compared the in vivo activity of the mAb ART-65 and ART-18 with that of the W3/25 mAb in a local graft-vs-host reaction (GVHR). Similar to the anti-W3/25 treatment, ART-65 and ART-18 inhibited GVHR. The results demonstrate that GVHR depends on a small subpopulation of IL 2R+ cells present in the W3/25+ T cell population because IL 2R-targeted therapy was as effective as the treatment with W3/25 mAb which reacts with the entire T helper cell population. Moreover, the results argue against the possibility that anti-IL 2R mAb act via blockade of the IL 2 binding to IL 2R+ cells and/or by inhibiting the IL 2-driven expansion of the antigen-activated clones. The results support the view that IL 2R-targeted therapy results in the elimination of the IL 2R+ cells.     

Ontogenetic appearance of immunoreactive endocrine cells in rat pancreatic islets

Summary Chronological development of immunoreactive, pancreatic endocrine cells was immunohistochemically studied in rats. The first immunoreaction occurs for glucagon on day 11.5 and for insulin on day 12.5 of gestation, respectively, in the cells located within the cap-like or tubular pancreatic primordium derived from the gut wall. Immunoreactive somatostatin cells appear first at the periphery of primitive islets on day 15.5. On day 18.5, the cells of the primitive islets obtain their definitive arrangement and the islets are now separated from the tissue of the exocrine pancreas. Decapitation or encephalectomy performed on day 16.5 embryos fails to influence the ensuing further development of endocrine pancreas. This suggests that the hypothalamus or pituitary does not play an essential role in the histogenesis of the pancreatic islets.     

Morphological Study of Pancreatic Endocrine in an Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis with Diabetes Induced by Stress and Cerulein

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological changes in the islets observed in a new chronic pancreatitis model with diabetes induced by repetition of cerulein injection plus water-immersion stress in rats. The rats of this model were treated with water-immersion stress for 5 h and two intraperitoneal injections of 20 mug/kg body weight of cerulein once a week for 16 weeks. In the stress and cerulein group, 62% of the islets exhibited infiltration of mononucleated cells, and/or peri- and intrainsular fibrosis. On immunohistochemical study, some islets showed reduced density of the insulin immunoreactivity. The glucagon-producing cells decreased in number. With electron microscopy, various endocrine changes were observed, mainly in the B cells. The changes included scattered debris damage with reduction of secretary granules, and vesiculation of the endoplasmic reticulum. Numerous fibroblasts clustered around the islets, and proliferating collagen fibers invaded the islets. The microvascular changes consisted of bleeding and damage to the endothels. In the pancreas treated with stress alone or cerulein alone, significant endocrine damage was not observed. In conclusion, chronic repetitive treatment with stress and cerulein, together with poor islet circulation due to fibrosis and vascular changes, resulted in the endocrine cellular damage.