Abstract
Conflicting data have been reported concerning T cell abnormalities in IDDM. We evaluated some functional and phenotypic parameters of peripheral T lymphocytes in 12 newly diagnosed children with IDDM: 1)T cell activation, by anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and 4F2,MLR4, 5E9(antitransferrin receptor) MAbs.2) The expression of 5/9antigen (defining in normal individuals a small subset described as "helper-inducer")3)The expression of T8 antigen(by B9.4MAbs, described as a stable phenotype of cytotoxic, or precursor of cytotoxic,T sells) .4) The auto - logous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), i.e. the ability of T cells to proliferate when co-cultured with autologus non T cells: this reaction is supposed to be related to the ability of immuno-competent cells to cooperate.The results obtained showed an increase of some activation markers of T cells, namely 4F2 and 5E9, in the majority of the patients, whilst HLA-DR expression did not significantly differ from controls. This is partially at variance of previous studies.Both 5/9+ and B9.4+T cell percentages were significantly increased.With regard to AMLR, an impairment was apparent in 1/2of the patients. When the culture was performed in serum free medium (HB103) addition of exogenous insulin restored AMLR proliferation in some patients. These preliminary findings are consistent with the possibility of T cell abnormalities in IDDM.
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Canonica, G., Geronimo, L., Caria, M. et al. Phenotypic and functional T cell abnormalities in children with IDDM. Pediatr Res 18, 1219 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00109