Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by T-cell mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Recently, small cationic α-defensin molecules have been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the α-defensin expression in patients with T1D and elucidate the cellular source of their production. Our results show that 30% of patients exhibit increased levels of α-defensin mRNAs in their capillary blood. Quantitative RT-PCR performed on FACS-sorted granulocytes identified CD15(dull)/CD14(weak) population as the cellular source of α-defensins. Surprisingly, this granulocyte subpopulation displayed augmentation of α-defensin expression in all T1D patients tested. The determination of cell surface markers, expression of cell-specific genes and confocal microscopy identified CD15(dull)/CD14(weak) cells as eosinophils. The presence of transcriptionally active eosinophils in diabetic patients suggests that eosinophils could be a part of an intricate innate immune cellular network involved in the development of diabetes.
- MeSH
- alfa-defensiny krev genetika imunologie MeSH
- antigen Lewis X imunologie MeSH
- autoimunita MeSH
- beta-buňky imunologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- diabetes mellitus 1. typu krev genetika imunologie MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- eozinofily imunologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- imunologická tolerance MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipopolysacharidové receptory imunologie MeSH
- messenger RNA biosyntéza MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- peroxidasa krev genetika imunologie MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- přirozená imunita MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
