Novel model of double transgenic mouse results in autoimmune diabetes in males

AbstractIdentifying the type of diabetogenic CD8+ T cells that initiate autoimmune diabetes (AID) is a critical step in designing appropriate strategies for the early detection of beta cell-directed autoimmunity and its progression to diabetes. We generated a novel double transgenic (Tg) mouse model on the naturally diabetes resistant C57Bl/6 background, co-expressing two transgenes including a specific TCR anti-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein (LCMV-NP) carried by CD8+ T cells and LCMV-NP (as neo-self antigen) expressed by pancreatic beta cells. The resulting double Tg mouse showed partial thymic deletion of the NP-specific CD8+ T cells. The escaping autoreactive NP-specific CD8+ T cells joining the periphery were activated and gained effector functions. Both male and female mice mounted anti-NP antibodies, but only one-fourth adult males spontaneously developed AID. Significant upregulation of the CD44 and CD122 markers as compared to healthy male and female mice characterized the phenot...