CCL4 protects from type 1 diabetes by altering islet beta-cell-targeted inflammatory responses

Diabetes. 2007 Mar;56(3):809-17. doi: 10.2337/db06-0619.

Abstract

We previously reported that interleukin (IL)-4 treatment of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice elevates intrapancreatic CCL4 expression and protects from type 1 diabetes. Here, we show that antibody neutralization of CCL4 abrogates the ability of T-cells from IL-4-treated NOD mice to transfer protection against type 1 diabetes. Intradermal delivery of CCL4 via a plasmid vector stabilized by incorporation of the Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1/oriP episomal maintenance replicon (pHERO8100-CCL4) to NOD mice beginning at later stages of disease progression protects against type 1 diabetes. This protection was associated with a Th2-like response in the spleen and pancreas; decreased recruitment of activated CD8(+) T-cells to islets, accompanied by diminished CCR5 expression on CD8(+) T-cells; and regulatory T-cell activity in the draining pancreatic lymph nodes. Thus, inflammatory responses that target islet beta-cells are suppressed by CCL4, which implicates the use of CCL4 therapeutically to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokines, CC / genetics
  • Chemokines, CC / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / prevention & control*
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Inflammation / prevention & control
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology*
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation

Substances

  • Ccl4 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokines, CC
  • Interleukin-4