Alteration of intra-pancreatic target-organ specificity by abrogation of Aire in NOD mice.

ABSTRACT: Factors that determine the spectrum of target organs involved in autoimmune destruction are poorly understood. Although loss of function of autoimmune regulator (AIRE) in thymic epithelial cells is responsible for autoimmunity, the pathogenic roles of AIRE in regulating target-organ specificity remain elusive. In order to gain insight into this issue, we have established NOD mice, an animal model of type 1 diabetes caused by autoimmune attack against beta cell islets, in which Aire has been abrogated. Remarkably, acinar cells rather than beta cell islets were the major targets of autoimmune destruction in Aire-deficient NOD mice, and this alteration of intra-pancreatic target-organ specificity was associated with production of autoantibody against pancreas-specific protein disulfide isomer

SUBMITTER: Niki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1440703 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature