Diabetes induced with low doses of streptozotocin is mediated by V beta 8.2+ T-cells

Recombinant Lactococcus lactis Carrying IL-4 and IL-10 Coding Vectors Protects against Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice and Attenuates Insulitis in the STZ-Induced Model

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that culminates in beta cell destruction in the pancreas and, subsequently, deficiency in insulin production. Cytokines play a crucial role in the development of diabetes, orchestrating the recruitment and action of immune cells, to not only destroy insulin-producing cells but also preserve them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of orally administered Lactococcus lactis MG1363 FnBPA+ strains carrying plasmids encoding IL-4 and IL-10 in the streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes model and in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. The STZ-induced mice that were treated with combined bacterial strains carrying plasmids encoding IL-4 and IL-10 showed lower incidence of diabetes and more preserved pancreatic islets than the mice that received the individual bacterial strains. Combined administration of L. lactis MG1363 FnBPA+ (pValac::dts::IL-4) and L. lactis MG1363 FnBPA+ (pValac::IL-10) resulted in protection against diabetes in NOD mice. It was shown that the combined treatment with recombinant bacterial by oral route prevented hyperglycemia and reduced the pancreatic islets-destruction in NOD mice. In addition, increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in serum and pancreatic tissue revealed a systemic effect of the treatment and also favored an anti-inflammatory microenvironment. Reduced concentrations of IL-12 in pancreas were essential to the regulation of inflammation, resulting in no incidence of diabetes in treated NOD mice. Normal levels of intestinal sIgA after long-term treatment with the L. lactis strains carrying plasmids encoding IL-4 and IL-10 indicate the development of oral tolerance and corroborate the use of this potent tool of mucosal delivery. For the first time, L. lactis MG1363 FnBPA+ strains carrying eukaryotic expression vectors encoding IL-4 and IL-10 are tested in STZ-induced and NOD mouse models. Therefore, our study demonstrates this innovative strategy provides immunomodulatory potential for further investigations in T1D and other autoimmune diseases.

Antidiabetic Effect of High-Chromium Yeast Against Type 2 Diabetic KK-Ay Mice

High chromium yeast has attracted many researchers for its high efficiency and high safety among chromium supplements. The preventive effect of oral high-chromium yeast on diabetes was assessed using KK-A^Y mice. Sixteen-wk-old type 2 diabetic KK-A^Y mice were divided into five groups and orally administered with two types of drying processed high-chromium yeast, chromium picolinate at 1000 μg Cr/kg/d, metformin (positive control), and normal yeast (negative control) for 13 weeks. The spray-dried high-chromium yeast significantly delayed the onset of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic KK-A^Y mice (P < 0.05) and significantly improved fasting blood glucose, TG(triglyceride), and TCHO(total cholesterol) . Histopathological analysis showed that the spray-dried high-chromium yeast led to high affinities for the stains to the β-cells in the islets of Langerhans and alleviated hepatic steatosis. High-chromium yeast could be a potential candidate for nutritional supplement to ameliorate diabetes.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Chromium plays an important role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. The result show that spray-dried high chromium yeast significantly delayed the onset of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic KK-A^Y mice. As one of chromium supplements, the purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of high chromium yeast on the type 2 diabetes and drying method on its bioactivity, which will be useful for research and development of high-chromium yeast and improvement of pharmacological activity-based quality control.

Dual genetic absence of STAT6 and IL-10 does not abrogate anti-hyperglycemic effects of Schistosoma mansoni in streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice

Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) is known to exert protective effects against various allergic and autoimmune disorders. It has been reported that this parasite protects NOD mice from spontaneous type 1 diabetes (T1D) and ameliorates streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D in wild-type mice. Here, we tried to clarify the anti-diabetic mechanisms of Sm in the latter model. Sm infection partially prevented the degradation of pancreatic islets and hyperglycemia in multiple low-dose (MLD) STZ-treated mice. Neither Treg cell depletion nor genetic absences of IL-10 and/or STAT6 abrogated the anti-hyperglycemic effects of Sm. Among M2 macrophage markers, Arg-1 and Ym1, but not Retnla, remained up-regulated in the pancreatic lymph nodes and in the spleens of STAT6/IL-10 double deficient (DKO) mice. Collectively, it is suggested that Sm exerts anti-diabetic effects on this experimental T1D model via Treg/IL-4/IL-13/IL-10-independent mechanisms. Augmented expressions of Arg-1 and Ym1 in the lymphoid organs adjacent to pancreas may be relevant to the anti-diabetic effects of Sm.

Enhanced Anti-Diabetogenic Effect of Intravenous Immune Globulin Modified by Ferrous Ion Exposure

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory capacity of native and Fe(II)-exposed intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) in multiple low dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes and to delineate the mechanisms of their influence on immune cell functions. Optimal doses (200–600mg/kg) of IVIg prevented the development of hyperglycemia, glycosuria and attenuated mononuclear cell infiltration in pancreatic islets. Fe(II) exposure of IVIg decreased their optimal therapeutic dose to 100mg/kg which significantly decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines compared to the same dose of native IVIg. This was accompanied by lower numbers of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells and increased frequencies of CD4+IL-10+ and CD4+IL-4+ T cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes and islets on day 16 after diabetes induction. Ferrous ion-exposed IVIg enhanced the bias towards Th2 response while the regulatory Foxp3+ T cells were not affected.

β-Cell-Specific Glucocorticoid Reactivation Attenuates Inflammatory β-Cell Destruction

Progression and severity of type 1 diabetes is dependent upon inflammatory induction of nitric oxide production and consequent pancreatic β-cell damage. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are highly effective anti-inflammatory agents but have been precluded in type 1 diabetes and in islet transplantation protocols because they exacerbated insulin resistance and suppressed β-cell insulin secretion at the high-doses employed clinically. In contrast, physiological-range elevation of GC action within β-cells ameliorated lipotoxic β-cell failure in transgenic mice overexpressing the intracellular enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (MIP-HSD1(tg/+) mice). Here, we tested the hypothesis that elevated β-cell 11beta-HSD1 protects against the β-cell destruction elicited by streptozotocin (STZ), a toxin that dose-dependently mimics aspects of inflammatory and autoimmune β-cell destruction. MIP-HSD1(tg/+) mice exhibited an episodic protection from the severe hyperglycemia caused by a single high dose of STZ associated with higher and sustained β-cell survival, maintained β-cell replicative potential, higher plasma and islet insulin levels, reduced inflammatory macrophage infiltration and increased anti-inflammatory T regulatory cell content. MIP-HSD1(tg/+) mice also completely resisted mild hyperglycemia and insulitis induced by multiple low-dose STZ administration. In vitro, MIP-HSD1(tg/+) islets exhibited attenuated STZ-induced nitric oxide production, an effect reversed with a specific 11beta-HSD1 inhibitor. GC regeneration selectively within β-cells protects against inflammatory β-cell destruction, suggesting therapeutic targeting of 11beta-HSD1 may ameliorate processes that exacerbate type 1 diabetes and that hinder islet transplantation.

High-throughput sequencing of islet-infiltrating memory CD4+ T cells reveals a similar pattern of TCR Vβ usage in prediabetic and diabetic NOD mice

Autoreactive memory CD4⁺ T cells play a critical role in the development of type 1 diabetes, but it is not yet known how the clonotypic composition and TCRβ repertoire of the memory CD4⁺ T cell compartment changes during the transition from prediabetes to diabetes. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the TCRβ repertoire of sorted islet-infiltrating memory CD4⁺CD44^high T cells in 10-week-old prediabetic and recently diabetic NOD mice. We show that most clonotypes of islet-infiltrating CD4⁺CD44^high T cells were rare, but high-frequency clonotypes were significantly more common in diabetic than in prediabetic mice. Moreover, although the CD4⁺CD44^high TCRβ repertoires were highly diverse at both stages of disease development, dominant use of TRBV1 (Vβ2), TRBV13-3 (Vβ8.1), and TRBV19 (Vβ6) was evident in both prediabetic and diabetic mice. Our findings strongly suggest that therapeutic targeting of cells specifically expressing the dominant TCRβ might reduce pancreatic infiltration in prediabetic mice and attenuate the progression to diabetes.

The protective effect of simvastatin against low dose streptozotocin induced type 1 diabetes in mice is independent of inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase

Besides a cholesterol-lowering effect, simvastatin possesses anti-inflammatory properties attributed to inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and/or direct binding to, and inhibition of, the integrin lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). We have shown that simvastatin protects against multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLDS) induced type 1 diabetes in mice. Presently, we examined if this effect could be abolished by co-administration of mevalonic acid, thus determining if the protective effect is dependent or independent of inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. Mevalonic acid did not affect the protective effect of simvastatin against MLDS diabetes. Moreover, spleens from these mice did not show any signs of toxic side-effects, thus excluding the possibility that the protective effect is secondary to a general inflammatory response. We suggest that simvastatin's protective effect mainly is independent of HMG-CoA reductase inhibition. This implies that inhibition of LFA-1 activation is important for the protective effect exerted by simvastatin.

MKK3 signalling plays an essential role in leukocyte-mediated pancreatic injury in the multiple low-dose streptozotocin model

In vitro studies have implicated activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway in cytokine-mediated pancreatic beta-cell injury. Activation of the p38 MAPK occurs through two different upstream kinases, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3) and MKK6. This study examined the role of MKK3 signalling in an in vivo model of cytokine-dependent pancreatic injury induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLD-STZ). Groups of wild-type (WT) or Mkk3-/- C57BL/6J mice received 5 daily injections of STZ (40 mg/kg) and were killed on day 5, week 2 or week 4. MLD-STZ in WT mice exhibited two distinct phases of pancreatic damage: islet cell apoptosis (immunostaining for cleaved caspase-3) on day 5 in the absence of leukocyte infiltration, and this was followed by islet inflammation (leukocyte infiltration and cytokine production) and further islet cell apoptosis on day 14 resulting in a loss of insulin-producing beta-cells and an 80% incidence of hyperglycaemia. Mkk3-/- mice were not protected from the initial phase of STZ-induced islet cell apoptosis day 5. However, Mkk3-/- mice were completely protected from the induction of hyperglycaemia. This was attributed to inhibition of leukocyte infiltration, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and islet cell apoptosis at day 14 of MLD-STZ. In vitro studies showed that cultured islets from Mkk3-/- and WT mice are equally susceptible to STZ and cytokine-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, MKK3 signalling plays an essential role in the development of islet inflammation leading to destruction of beta-cells and hyperglycaemia in MLD-STZ-induced pancreatic injury.

Lisofylline: a potential lead for the treatment of diabetes

Lisofylline (LSF), a synthetic modified methylxanthine, was originally designed and tested as an agent to reduce mortality during serious infections associated with cancer chemotherapy. Experimental studies and several clinical trials showed that LSF inhibited the generation of phosphatidic acid and free fatty acids. LSF also blocked the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in oxidative tissue injury, in response to cancer chemotherapy and in experimental sepsis. Recent research has revealed a new potential to extend the therapeutic application of LSF especially for diabetes mellitus. These new studies demonstrate multiple actions of LSF in the regulation of immune cell function and autoimmune response by inhibition of IL-12 signalling and cytokine production. Supporting the new potential for LSF is the discovery of beneficial effects in protecting pancreatic beta cells and in preventing autoimmunity. In this article, these new observations about LSF are reviewed and a strategy proposed for using this compound in new clinical applications. LSF may, thus, have therapeutic value in the prevention of autoimmune disorders, including Type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune recurrence following islet transplantation, and in preservation of beta cell functional mass during islet isolation.

Global and societal implications of the diabetes epidemic

Changes in human behaviour and lifestyle over the last century have resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of diabetes worldwide. The epidemic is chiefly of type 2 diabetes and also the associated conditions known as 'diabesity' and 'metabolic syndrome'. In conjunction with genetic susceptibility, particularly in certain ethnic groups, type 2 diabetes is brought on by environmental and behavioural factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, overly rich nutrition and obesity. The prevention of diabetes and control of its micro- and macrovascular complications will require an integrated, international approach if we are to see significant reduction in the huge premature morbidity and mortality it causes.

In vivo microscopy of murine islets of Langerhans: increased adhesion of transferred lymphocytes to islets depends on macrophage-derived cytokines in a model of organ-specific insulitis

Environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). Multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLDS) induce hyperglycaemia and insulitis in mice. Previously we demonstrated that adhesion of lymphocytes to endothelium of islets is only increased when donor animals were diabetic and recipient mice had received 5 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Therefore we used streptozotocin to evaluate the immunological relevance of such an irritation of islets. Lymphocytes, separated from diabetic mice (MLDS), were fluorescently labelled and injected to recipient mice that had received 5 mg/kg STZ. With in vivo microscopy we measured lymphocyte flow and adherence in islets. Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the pancreas was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) and leucocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression on transferred lymphocytes was measured with flow cytometry. Pretreatment of recipients with antibodies to cytokines or silica reduced lymphocyte adherence to islet endothelium from 2.04% (goat immunoglobulin G; IgG) or 1.82% (rat IgG) to 0.47, 0.58, 0.39 or 0. 19% for monoclonal antibody (mAb) interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), polyclonal antibody (pAb) tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), pAb interleukin (IL)-1alpha or silica, respectively. Reduced adhesion was associated with a decreased expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in islets of treated recipients compared with mice treated with 5 mg/kg STZ alone. In conclusion, pretreatment of recipients with 5 mg/kg STZ leads to an increased expression of adhesion molecules in the islets and lymphocyte adhesion to islet endothelium in vivo, demonstrating an immune response of the islets. Prevention of increased expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 and reduction of lymphocyte adhesion in islets by silica or antibody indicate an involvement of macrophages and macrophage derived cytokines in the generation of this immune response.

NKT cell cytokine imbalance in murine diabetes mellitus

A minor subset of murine MHC class I-restricted T cells which express both the alphabeta form of the T cell receptor and a NK lineage marker, termed NKT cells, is capable of secreting significant amounts of Interleukin-4 and Interferon-y upon activation. As such NKT cells may play a role in development of Th1 and Th2 cells during T cell ontogeny or expansion of T cells expressing a dominant cytokine pattern in the effector phase. We have studied the role of NKT cells in a murine model of disease multidose streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus (MDSDM). In MDSDM thymic and splenic NKT cells are present at normal levels but have greatly reduced capacity to secrete Interleukin-4 upon stimulation with anti-TCR antibody compared to control mice; conversely, Interferon-y secretion is maintained. By analysis of cytokine RNA production we found that treatment of several strains of mice with streptozotocin changes the peripheral helper T cell phenotype elicited after immunization with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin from a mixed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine pattern (characterized by IFN-gamma and IL-4 and IL-5 expressions, respectively) to predominately Th1-type. Furthermore, susceptibility to MDSDM is significantly enhanced when NKT cells are selectively eliminated in vivo by administration of depleting anti-CD122 antibody TMbeta-1. In addition, antibody depletion of NKT cells from non-obese diabetic mice significantly accelerates onset of disease. Collectively these data support a model for development of murine diabetes mellitus in which NKT cell cytokine expression influences the development of Th1-type diabetogenic T cells.

Multidose streptozotocin induction of diabetes in BALB/cBy mice induces a T cell proliferation defect in thymocytes which is reversible by interleukin-4

Thymic T cell function in streptozotocin-treated (STZ) diabetic mice has been examined. STZ administration suppresses thymic T cell proliferation in response to mitogen stimulation in vitro. Secretion of IL-4 was dramatically reduced; however, secretion of IL-2 or IFN-gamma was not significantly inhibited. RT-PCR analysis of thymocyte RNA revealed that levels of IL-4 mRNA were dramatically decreased in STZ-treated mice. Levels of mRNA encoding IFN-gamma were similar, but the appearance was delayed in thymocytes derived from STZ-treated mice, implying differential regulation of IL-4 and IFN-gamma. Defective thymocyte proliferation was partially restored by exposure to IL-2 in vitro; however, IL-4 completely reversed the STZ-induced defect. Administration in vivo of IL-4 before STZ treatment reversed the STZ-induced thymocyte proliferation defect and prevented both pancreatic islet destruction and hyperglycemia. Thymocyte cell surface differentiation markers were not appreciably different from control mice. Collectively these experiments suggest that STZ treatment of mice reduces expression of IL-4 which is associated with development of autoimmune diabetes.

Effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus casei on alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

The effect of Lactobacillus casei (LC) on the onset of alloxan (AXN)-induced diabetes in 7-week-old BALB/c mice were examined. It was observed that the mice given a diet containing 0.1% or 0.05% LC or orally administered LC showed significantly decreased incidence of diabetes induced by intravenous injection of AXN and that the plasma glucose level was slightly lower than that in the control group. The body weight in the LC-treated groups was higher than that in the control group, although the food intake weights were almost the same. Pathological analysis revealed that the AXN-induced disappearance of insulin-secreting beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans was strongly inhibited in the LC-treated groups. It was also shown that the serum nitric oxide level was maintained at a normal level in LC-treated mice, whereas the level in the control group was increased by AXN administration. Taken together, these findings suggest that oral administration of LC to AXN-treated BALB/c mice contributed to the reduction of diabetes and the increase in plasma glucose level.

In vitro stimulation with glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) leads to an oligoclonal response of peripheral T-cells in an IDDM patient

The enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) is a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). To study T-cell reactivity towards GAD, peripheral blood leucocytes from seven patients with IDDM and five control subjects were stimulated in vitro with recombinant GAD. All diabetics studied were heterozygous for diabetes-associated HLA alleles, i.e. HLA-DRB1*03,*04-DQB1 *0302,*0201. A single IDDM subject (no. GAD65.05) revealed a strong response against GAD65. After stimulation, his T-cell receptor beta (TCRBV) usage was found to be oligoclonal. The sequence analysis of the putative peptide binding region of the T-cell receptor (CDR3 region) of 37 GAD-reactive T-cell clones revealed no common CDR3 motif. The stimulation of GAD-reactive T-cells could be inhibited with anti-class II monoclonal antibodies, indicating a class II restricted T-cell response. In addition, GAD65-responsive T-cells revealed a Th1 cytokine response pattern. The author's data suggest that GAD-reactive T-cells of Th1 phenotype can be obtained after in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood leucocytes from an HLA-DRB1*03/*04 heterozygous IDDM patient. The lack of a common CDR3 motif suggests the absence of an immunodominant T-cell epitope in that patient, or may indicate receptor repertoire spreading of peripheral T-lymphocytes.