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CD226 Deletion Reduces Type 1 Diabetes in the NOD Mouse by Impairing Thymocyte Development and Peripheral T Cell Activation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

CD226 Deletion Reduces Type 1 Diabetes in the NOD Mouse by Impairing Thymocyte Development and Peripheral T Cell Activation

Melanie R. Shapiro, Wen Yeh, Joshua R. Longfield, John Gallagher, Caridad M. Infante, Sarah Wellford, Amanda L. Posgai, Mark A. Atkinson, Martha Campbell-Thompson, Scott M. Lieberman, …
Frontiers in immunology, Vol.11, pp.2180-2180
09/04/2020
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02180
PMCID: PMC7500101
PMID: 33013915
url
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.02180View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The costimulatory molecule CD226 is highly expressed on effector/memory T cells and natural killer cells. Costimulatory signals received by T cells can impact both central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. Genetic polymorphisms inCD226have been associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. We hypothesized that genetic deletion ofCd226in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse would impact type 1 diabetes incidence by altering T cell activation. CD226 knockout (KO) NOD mice displayed decreased disease incidence and insulitis in comparison to wild-type (WT) controls. Although female CD226 KO mice had similar levels of sialoadenitis as WT controls, male CD226 KO mice showed protection from dacryoadenitis. Moreover, CD226 KO T cells were less capable of adoptively transferring disease compared to WT NOD T cells. Of note, CD226 KO mice demonstrated increased CD8(+)single positive (SP) thymocytes, leading to increased numbers of CD8(+)T cells in the spleen. Decreased percentages of memory CD8(+)CD44(+)CD62L(-)T cells were observed in the pancreatic lymph nodes of CD226 KO mice. Intriguingly, CD8(+)T cells in CD226 KO mice showed decreased islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP)-tetramer and CD5 staining, suggesting reduced T cell receptor affinity for this immunodominant antigen. These data support an important role for CD226 in type 1 diabetes development by modulating thymic T cell selection as well as impacting peripheral memory/effector CD8(+)T cell activation and function.
Immunology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology

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