CD8+ regulatory T cells are critical in prevention of autoimmune-mediated diabetes

September 21, 2020

Title

CD8+ regulatory T cells are critical in prevention of autoimmune-mediated diabetes

Author

Chikako Shimokawa, Tamotsu Kato, Tadashi Takeuchi, Noriyasu Ohshima, Takao Furuki, Yoshiaki Ohtsu, Kazutomo Suzue, Takashi Imai, Seiji Obi, Alex Olia, Takashi Izumi, Minoru Sakurai, Hirokazu Arakawa, Hiroshi Ohno & Hajime Hisaeda

Year

2020

Journal

nature communications

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells are destroyed. Intestinal helminths can cause asymptomatic chronic and immunosuppressive infections and suppress disease in rodent models of T1D. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms for this protection are unclear. Here, we report that CD8+ regulatory T (Treg) cells prevent the onset of streptozotocin -induced diabetes by a rodent intestinal nematode. Trehalose derived from nematodes affects the intestinal microbiota and increases the abundance of Ruminococcus spp., resulting in the induction of CD8+ Treg cells. Furthermore, trehalose has therapeutic effects on both streptozotocin-induced diabetes and in the NOD mouse model of T1D. In addition, compared with healthy volunteers, patients with T1D have fewer CD8+ Treg cells, and the abundance of intestinal Ruminococcus positively correlates with the number of CD8+ Treg cells in humans.

Instrument

IRT-7200

Keywords

autoimmune-mediated diabetes, T cells, FTIR microscopy