Cytotoxic activity of sera from diabetic BB rats against BB rat islet--a functional study

[3H] leucine incorporation into islet proteins, insulin secretion, hormone content (insulin, glucagon) and DNA synthesis were measured in cultured BB rat islets in a study to compare the effect of freshly prepared BB rat serum obtained from non-diabetic and newly diagnosed diabetic BB rats on islet functions. After exposure of isolated BB rat islet to a mixture of tissue culture medium and BB rat serum (1:1) for 24 hr, islet lysis was induced by 40% of the diabetic BB rat sera whereas the remaining 60% of diabetic BB rat sera tested did not influence islet functions as evidenced by insulin net production, glucose-induced insulin release and DNA synthesis measured in a subsequent culture period in TCM 199, 10 mmol/l glucose supplemented with 10% neonatal calf serum or short-term incubations. After exposure of islets to sera with anti-islet cytotoxicity the majority of islet cells were destroyed as indicated by a drastically reduced [3H] leucine incorporation into islet proteins and by a diminution of hormone and DNA content of islets. This toxicity against islets was overcome by heat treatment (58 degrees C, 30 min) of sera. The results indicate that heat-labile components in certain diabetic sera of BB rats can lyse the majority of islet cells in BB rat islets within 24 hr. Our assay may help to dissociate humoral and cellular components which cause the injury of beta cells and the onset of diabetes in BB rats.