Circulating nucleic acids in type 1 diabetes may modulate the thymocyte turnover rate

Abstract The autoimmunity of type 1 diabetes is associated with T-cell hyperactivity. Current study was designed to examine the effect of circulating ribonucleic acids (RNAs), isolated from type 1 diabetic patients on proliferative, apoptotic and inflammatory potential of rat thymocytes. Rat thymocytes were assayed for proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, Bax and NF-κB level, using the flow cytometric and fluorometric assays. Cells were allocated into groups, treated with RNAs purified from plasma of juvenile diabetics, adult type 1 diabetic patients, control healthy children, healthy adult persons, nucleic acids and polynucleotide standards (RNA, polyC, PolyA, PolyIC, and CpG). The upregulation of PCNA and Bcl-2 protein and downregulation of Bax protein and NF-κB was shown when the thymocytes where incubated with RNA purified from plasma of juvenile type 1 diabetic patients. The dysregulation of inflammatory cascade and central tolerance may be a defect in autoimmune diseases related to innate immunity leading to corresponding alteration in adaptive immune response.