Gut-tropic α4β7⁺CD8⁺ T cells contribute to pancreatic β cell destruction in type 1 diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

T cells are crucial in destroying pancreatic β cells, resulting in insulitis in type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, only 1% to 2% of infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells are specific for islet autoantigens. The mechanisms driving non-cognate T cells to the islets and their potential pathogenic roles remain unclear.

Methods

We analyzed the frequency and function of circulating gut-tropic immune cells in 99 patients with T1D and 57 healthy controls. We also analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing on pancreata from 10 T1D donors, 11 autoantibody-positive donors, and 15 non-diabetic controls. Correlation analysis was performed to elucidate the relationship between gut-tropic cells and clinical variables. In NOD mice, we examined gut-tropic T cell frequencies, cytokine profile

SUBMITTER: Su Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12286794 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature