ISSN:
1432-0428
Keywords:
Keywords BB rat
;
insulitis
;
cytokines
;
inducible NO synthase
;
BCG
;
tetanus toxoid
;
lipopolysaccharide.
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary In diabetes prone BB rat pancreas the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by mRNA analysis before and after the onset of insulitis. Specific mRNA was amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, quantitated with radiolabelled probes by phosphoimaging and calibrated with the amount of co-amplified β -actin mRNA. At 50 days of age, prior to recognizeable insulitis, there was already significantly enhanced expression of both, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and of iNOS mRNA, when compared to Wistar rat pancreas (p 〈 0.001). This supports the concept of an inconspicuous early phase of islet infiltration by single immunocytes, called single cell insulitis. At 70 days of age mononuclear infiltration of islets had begun and was associated with upregulation of interferon γ (IFNγ ) and iNOS, but downregulation of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor β mRNA (p 〈 0.001). These findings correlate the onset of insulitis with a shift of the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance towards Th1 cell reactivity. Indeed there was a close correlation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio but not of absolute IFNγ mRNA levels with the insulitis score. Vaccination at day 50 with tetanus toxoid did not affect cytokine gene expression while diphtheria toxoid and even more strongly BCG administration induced a shift towards Th2 reactivity (p 〈 0.001) while iNOS mRNA was decreased (p 〈 0.01). Oral dosing with immunostimulatory components of Escherichia coli also changed the quality of inflammation. Oral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli and OM-89, an endotoxin free extract containing immunostimulatory glycolipopeptides and heat shock protein (hsp) 65, both downregulated IFNγ mRNA while only OM-89 in addition suppressed iNOS mRNA and enhanced Th2 cytokine gene expression (p 〈 0.001). We conclude that the onset of insulitis is associated with a shift towards Th1 cytokine and iNOS gene expression. Diphtheria toxoid and BCG vaccination stimulates Th2 reactivity but does not downregulate Th1. The latter can be achieved through oral administration of LPS or a glycopeptide fraction (OM-89) from E. coli. [Diabetologia (1996) 39: 1448–1454]
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001250050597
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