Induction of virus-induced IDDM in virus resistant mice without lymphocyte maturation

The role of lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of viral-induced insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is controversial. To better understand how a virus-induced IDDM depends on the infiltrating lymphocytes, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) was inoculated intraperitoneally into three kinds of mice; virus-susceptible C57BL/6, virus-resistant 129/SV and recombination activity gene-2 (Rag2) knockout 129/SV mice. Pancreatic inflammation and beta cell necrosis were evaluated after EMCV, D variant (10(3) pfu/mouse) inoculation. On post-inoculation day 14, the lethal rates of C57BL/6, 129/SV and Rag2 knockout mice were 52, 10 and 100%, respectively. The blood glucose in Rag2KO mice on day 8 was significantly elevated as compared with 129SV mice (231 +/- 49 vs 169 +/- 32 mg/dl, P<0.05). In situ hybridization demonstrated the EMCV genome in the pancreas of Rag2 knockout and C57BL/6 mice, but not in 129/SV mice. Beta cell necrosis were more severe in Rag-2 knockout mice than in wild type 129/SV mice, but lymphocyte infiltration was less severe than C57BL/6. Pancreas in Rag2 knockout mice infected with virus were affected more severely than the virus-resistant strain of mice. Diabetogenic virus induced IDDM in virus-resistant mice without mature lymphocytes.