IN-VIVO ACTIVITY AND IN-VITRO SPECIFICITY OF CD4(+) TH1 AND TH2 CELLSDERIVED FROM THE SPLEENS OF DIABETIC NOD MICE

CD4(+) T fell lines were generated from the spleens of diabetic NOD mi ce against crude membrane preparations derived from a rat insulinoma, Adoptive transfer of these lines into neonatal mice confirms that over t diabetes is induced by gamma-IFN-secreting Th1 cells, whereas transf er of IL-4-secreting Th2 cells resulted in a nondestructive peri-islet insulitis, Analysis of the antigens recognized by individual T cell c lones from the Th1 line included reactivity against an insulinoma memb rane fraction enriched in proteins of similar to 38 kD, Immune respons es to the same antigen preparation have been associated with T tell cl ones derived from human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, The speci ficity of Th2 cells includes reactivity to a fraction enriched in prot eins of 30 kD, The data suggest that in insulin-dependent diabetes mel litus the balance between beta cell destruction, associated with intra -islet infiltration, and nondestructive (potential protective) peri-is let insulitis may depend on both the antigens recognized, and the prev ailing cytokine environment.