GAD-specific T cells are induced by GAD-alum treatment in Type-1 diabetes patients

• Administration of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD)(65) formulated in aluminium hydroxide preserved insulin secretion in a phase II trial in recent onset Type 1 Diabetes. A subsequent European phase III trial was closed at 15 months after failing to reach primary endpoint, but the majority of the Swedish patients completed the 21 months follow-up. We studied the frequencies and phenotype of T cells, suppressive capacity of Tregs, GAD(65)-induced proliferation, and frequencies of T cells with a GAD(65)-specific TCR in Swedes participating in the trial. Stimulation with GAD(65) induced activated T cells and also cells with a suppressive phenotype. Activated GAD(65)-specific effector T cells were detected by tetramer staining while the frequency of GAD(65)-specific Treg was not affected by the treatment. Additional doses of GAD-alum increased frequencies of CD25(+)CD127(+), but had no effect on CD25(hi)CD127(lo). Our findings indicate that GAD-alum treatment primarily induced activated T cells. GAD(65)-specific cells were mainly of activated phenotype. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Immunologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Immunology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Type 1 diabetes; Regulatory T cells; Immune intervention; GAD; Children

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)