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Horm Metab Res 1996; 28(6): 299-301
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979798
Proceedings

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Diabetic BB Rat Neither Th1 nor Th2?

D. Bellgrau, D. Stenger, Cynthia Richards, F. Bao
  • The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

A long term objective of our work has been to identify and characterize the T cells responsible for causing autoimmune type I diabetes in the spontaneously diabetic BB rat. Based on the Th1/Th2 paradigm encompassing “regulated” and “regulatory” T cells, our analyses show that there are very few “regulatory” peripheral Th2 cells. The “regulated” T cells that remain express an unusual, immature phenotype that is neither Th1 nor Th2. Our data also indicate that transcript expression for p561ck, an enzyme required for T cell development, is abnormal in BB peripheral T cells. We discuss the role abnormal transcript expression of p561ck might play in retarding the development of mature regulatory Th2 cells while simultaneously influencing the escape of autoreactive T cells from the thymus.

Key words

BB Rat - Autoimmunity - p561ck - Th1/Th2