Specific immunotherapy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (preliminary report)

In 7 patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus a cytotoxic effect of blood lymphocytes against B-cells could be demonstrated by incubation of isolated rat islets with the lymphocytes. The addition of lymphocytes from healthy persons significantly reduced this effect in vitro. The transfusion of 1.9 X 10(9) - 1.5 X 10(10) lymphocytes from the parents to the patients produced a significant decrease of the cytotoxic effect of the lymphocytes from the patients. This effect could be demonstrated during the preliminary control period up to 12 weeks.