Open AccessReduced iNKT cells numbers in type 1 diabetes patients and their first‐degree relatives
Author(s) -
BeristainCovarrubias antzin,
CanchePool Elsy,
GomezDiaz Rita,
SanchezTorres Luvia E.,
OrtizNavarrete Vianney
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
immunity, inflammation and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2050-4527
DOI - 10.1002/iid3.79
Subject(s) - cd1d , cd8 , nod mice , immunology , biology , type 1 diabetes , population , natural killer t cell , cell , nod , cd3 , autoimmunity , diabetes mellitus , immune system , endocrinology , medicine , genetics , environmental health
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the specific destruction of insulin‐producing pancreatic β cells. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have been associated with development of T1D. Class I MHC‐restricted T cell‐associated molecule (CRTAM) is expressed on activated iNKT, CD8 + , and CD4 + T cells, and it is associated with the pro‐inflammatory profiles of these cells. Crtam gene expression in CD3 + lymphocytes from non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice is associated with T1D onset. However, expression of CRTAM on T cells from patients with T1D has not yet been evaluated. We compared iNKT cell (CD3 + Vα24 + Vβ11 + ) numbers and CRTAM expression in a Mexican population with recent‐onset T1D and their first‐degree relatives with control families. Remarkably, we found lower iNKT cell numbers in T1D families, and we identified two iNKT cell populations in some of the families. One iNKT cell population expressed high iTCR levels (iNKT hi ), whereas another expressed low levels (iNKT lo ) and also expressed CRTAM. These findings support a probable genetic determinant of iNKT cell numbers and a possible role for these cells in T1D development. This study also suggests that CRTAM identifies recently activated iNKT lymphocytes.