β Cells that Resist Immunological Attack Develop during Progression of Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice.

ABSTRACT: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves immune-mediated destruction of β cells. How β cells respond to immune attack is unknown. We identified a population of β cells during the progression of T1D in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice that survives immune attack. This population develops from normal β cells confronted with islet infiltrates. Pathways involving cell movement, growth and proliferation, immune responses, and cell death and survival are activated in these cells. There is reduced expression of β cell identity genes and diabetes antigens and increased immune inhibitory markers and stemness genes. This new subpopulation is resistant to killing when diabetes is precipitated with cyclophosphamide. Human β cells show similar changes when cultured with immune c

SUBMITTER: Rui J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5342930 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature