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Rodriguez-Calvo T, Christoffersson G, Bender C, von Herrath MG, Mallone R, Kent SC, James EA. Means, Motive, and Opportunity: Do Non-Islet-Reactive Infiltrating T Cells Contribute to Autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes? Front Immunol 2021; 12:683091. [PMID: 34220832 PMCID: PMC8242234 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In human type 1 diabetes and animal models of the disease, a diverse assortment of immune cells infiltrates the pancreatic islets. CD8+ T cells are well represented within infiltrates and HLA multimer staining of pancreas sections provides clear evidence that islet epitope reactive T cells are present within autoimmune lesions. These bona fide effectors have been a key research focus because these cells represent an intellectually attractive culprit for β cell destruction. However, T cell receptors are highly diverse in human insulitis. This suggests correspondingly broad antigen specificity, which includes a majority of T cells for which there is no evidence of islet-specific reactivity. The presence of “non-cognate” T cells in insulitis raises suspicion that their role could be beyond that of an innocent bystander. In this perspective, we consider the potential pathogenic contribution of non-islet-reactive T cells. Our intellectual framework will be that of a criminal investigation. Having arraigned islet-specific CD8+ T cells for the murder of pancreatic β cells, we then turn our attention to the non-target immune cells present in human insulitis and consider the possible regulatory, benign, or effector roles that they may play in disease. Considering available evidence, we overview the case that can be made that non-islet-reactive infiltrating T cells should be suspected as co-conspirators or accessories to the crime and suggest some possible routes forward for reaching a better understanding of their role in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Rodriguez-Calvo
- Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gustaf Christoffersson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christine Bender
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Type 1 Diabetes Center at La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Matthias G von Herrath
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Type 1 Diabetes Center at La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Roberto Mallone
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Cochin Hospital, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Paris, France
| | - Sally C Kent
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Eddie A James
- Translatonal Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle WA, United States
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