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Natural killer cell number and function in the spontaneously diabetic BB/W rat
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|September 15, 1986
Summary
Diabetes-prone rats exhibit increased natural killer (NK) cells and enhanced NK cell activity compared to diabetes-resistant rats. These findings suggest a role for NK cells in the development of autoimmune diabetes in BB/W rats.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The BB/W rat is a model for spontaneous autoimmune diabetes.
- Diabetes-prone (DP) rats show a deficiency in T cytotoxic/suppressor cells.
- Natural killer (NK) cells are suggested to be the primary cytotoxic cells in DP rats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize rat NK cells and their function in diabetes-prone rats.
- To investigate the number and activity of NK cells in DP rats compared to diabetes-resistant W-line rats.
- To explore the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of BB/W diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry to identify NK cells (OX 8+ OX 19- phenotype).
- In vivo NK cell depletion using OX 8 antibody.
- Cytotoxicity assays against YAC-1 and K562 target cells.
- Cell sorting, centrifugal elutriation, and DNA content analysis to assess NK cell proliferation and cell cycle status.
Main Results:
- Rat NK cells identified as OX 8+ OX 19- asialo GM1 bright population.
- NK cell number and activity are significantly elevated in DP rats versus W-line rats.
- DP rat NK cells exhibit higher cytotoxic activity against target cells compared to W-line rat NK cells.
- Elevated NK cell levels in DP rats are not due to proliferation, as cells are in G0-G1 phase.
Conclusions:
- NK cell number and activity are increased in diabetes-prone BB/W rats.
- These findings support a role for NK cells in the development of autoimmune diabetes.
- Further research into NK cell modulation could offer therapeutic strategies for diabetes.