This study also found that targeting RAD51 significantly increased CD73+ B cells in the spleen
pancreatic lymph nodes and pancreatic islets in treated mice.
pMHC class II-NP therapy functions by expanding, in an epitope-specific manner, autoantigen-experienced T-regulatory-1 (TR1) CD4+ T-cells that inhibit the recruitment of other autoantigenic specificities by: (1) suppressing autoantigen-loaded antigen-presenting cells in the
pancreatic lymph nodes (PLNs); and (2) promoting the differentiation of B-cells into B-regulatory cells.
In addition, the development and anatomy of the small intestine and pancreas are closely related, and the gut immune system shares connections with
pancreatic lymph nodes, which have been linked to an inflammation of the pancreas and the destruction of beta cells.
The team examined genes from mice that develop a type 1 diabetes-like disease and found that cells in their pancreatic lymph nodes make two forms of the same gene, known as the deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor 1 (Deaf1).
The researchers propose that the development of type 1 diabetes may be due in part to increased levels of the Deaf1 variant protein in pancreatic lymph nodes of people with this disease.
The investigators found that cells in the
pancreatic lymph nodes of mice make two forms of the same gene called deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor 1 (Deaf1).
In earlier studies, researchers demonstrated that groups of B cells migrate to the pancreas and
pancreatic lymph nodes, presenting specific insulin antigen to T cells.
