B Cell Inhibition Blocks Diabetes in Mouse Model

Diabetes researchers have blocked development of the disease in a mouse model by preventing immune cells from attacking insulin-producing cells.

Investigators from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney, Australia) worked with the NOD (nonobese diabetic) mouse model of human autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In earlier studies on the disease they had shown that groups of B cells migrate to the pancreas and pancreatic lymph nodes, presenting specific insulin antigen to T cells. In the current study they looked at ways to prevent this B cell activity. To this end they injected NOD mice with a specific monoclonal antibody, BCMA-Fc, when the animals were from 9-15-weeks-of-age. They then determined diabetes incidence, islet pathology and the makeup of T and B cell populations.

Results published in the March 31, 2009, online edition of the journal Diabetes revealed that the antibody, which blocked the activity of the TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-ligand family members BAFF and APRIL, reduced the severity of insulitis and prevented diabetes development.

"This is a remarkable finding, as other B cell depletion methods tested elsewhere have just delayed or reduced disease incidence," said first author Eliana Marino, a doctoral student at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

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