Summary
The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) represents activation, proliferation
and differentiation of T cells in response to signals from autologous non-T cells.
Deteriorations in AMLR have been reported in many autoimmune diseases and in diseases
with a derangement in T cell regulatory function. We have studied AMLR in 23 newly
diagnosed Type-1 diabetic patients and 32 healthy subjects.
T and non-T cells were purified by rosetting mononuclear cells with sheep erythrocytes
and separating the rosetted T cells from the nonrosetted non-T cells by density gradient
centrifugation. Purity of T-lymphocytes isolated was 90% as determined by indirect
immunofluorescent analysis with monoclonal antibodies. Proliferation of lymphocytes
was measured in response to phytohaemagglutinin and of concanavalin A in a lymphocyte
transformation test.
In the present study, a deficient AMLR is demonstrated in patients with newly diagnosed
Type-1 diabetes. Our data provide evidence for an aberrant immune regulation at the
time of diabetes manifestation. The deficient AMLR may represent the in-vitro expression
of an in-vivo process against pancreatic cells.
Key words
Type-1 diabetes - AMLR - Lymphocyte-Purification - Lymphocyte-Transformation - Lymphocyte-Phenotyping
