Human pancreatic extract and rat pancreatic islet homogenate-coated chicken erythrocytes as targets of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I diabetic patients.

Abstract

In this study 51Cr-labeled chicken erythrocytes coated with human pancreatic extract or rat pancreatic islet homogenate served as target cells for the detection of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I-diabetics. T-lymphocytes from type I-diabetic patients showed a significant cytotoxic capacity against target cells coated with human antigens as well as rat pancreatic islet homogenate. The frequency and intensity of cytotoxicity proved to be similar against the two types of targets. Since rat pancreatic islets are easily available and contain more characteristic beta-cell antigens than human pancreas extract, the homogenate of rat islets of Langerhans is more suitable than human pancreatic extract for studying the lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I-diabetic patients.