CCR4-bearing T cells participate in autoimmune diabetes

J Clin Invest. 2002 Dec;110(11):1675-86. doi: 10.1172/JCI15547.

Abstract

Chemokine receptor expression is exquisitely regulated on T cell subsets during the course of their migration to inflammatory sites. In the present study we demonstrate that CCR4 expression marks a pathogenic population of autoimmune T cells. CCR4 was found exclusively on memory CD4(+) T cells during the progression of disease in NOD mice. Cells expressing the CCR4 ligand TARC (thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine) were detected within infiltrated islets from prediabetic mice. Interestingly, neutralization of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) with Ab caused a significant reduction of CCR4-positive T cells within the pancreatic infiltrates and inhibited the development of insulitis and diabetes. Furthermore, enhanced recruitment of CCR4-bearing cells in NOD mice resulting from transgenic expression of MDC resulted in acceleration of clinical disease. Cumulatively, the results demonstrate that CCR4-bearing T cells participate in the development of such tissue-driven autoimmune reactions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Islets of Langerhans / immunology
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Prediabetic State / immunology
  • Receptors, CCR4
  • Receptors, Chemokine / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Ccr4 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, CCR4
  • Receptors, Chemokine