β-Cell apoptosis in an accelerated model of autoimmune diabetes

Abstract

Background: The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is a model of human type I diabetes in which autoreactive T cells mediate destruction of pancreatic islet β cells. Although known to be triggered by cytotoxic T cells, apoptosis has not been unequivocally localized to β cells in spontaneously diabetic NOD mice. We created a model of accelerated β-cell destruction mediated by T cells from spontaneously diabetic NOD mice to facilitate the direct detection of apoptosis in β cells. Materials and Methods: NOD.scid (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice were crossed with bm1 mice transgenically expressing the costimulatory molecule B7-1 (CD80) in their β cells, to generate B7-1 NOD.scid mice. Apoptos..