BETA-CELL APOPTOSIS IN T-CELL-MEDIATED AUTOIMMUNE DIABETES

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus results from T cell-mediated destr uction of insulin-producing, pancreatic islet beta cells. How this des truction takes place has remained elusive-largely due to the slow kine tics of disease progression. By crossing a transgenic mouse carrying a beta cell-specific T cell receptor onto the NOD. scid background, we produced a simplified but robust and accelerated model of diabetes. Th is mouse produces CD4(+) T cells bearing transgenic T cell receptor bu t is devoid of CD8(+) T cells and B cells. More importantly, this mous e develops a rapid diabetes, which has allowed us to record and quanti fy beta cell death. We have determined that beta cells within the infl amed islets die by apoptosis.