Ectopic Expression of Self-Antigen Drives Regulatory T Cell Development and Not Deletion of Autoimmune T Cells.

ABSTRACT: Type 1 diabetes is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that is characterized by Ag-specific targeting and destruction of insulin-producing β cells. Although multiple studies have characterized the pathogenic potential of β cell-specific T cells, we have limited mechanistic insight into self-reactive autoimmune T cell development and their escape from negative selection in the thymus. In this study, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of insulin epitope B:9-23 (InsB_9-23) by thymic APCs is insufficient to induce deletion of high- or low-affinity InsB_9-23-reactive CD4⁺ T cells; however, we observe an increase in the proportion and number of thymic and peripheral Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells. In contrast, the MHC stable insulin mimetope (InsB_9-

SUBMITTER: Lee T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5605461 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature