| First Author | Christen U | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 166 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | 7023-32 |
| PubMed ID | 11390446 | Mgi Jnum | J:81286 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2448776 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.166.12.7023 |
| Citation | Christen U, et al. (2001) A dual role for TNF-alpha in type 1 diabetes: islet-specific expression abrogates the ongoing autoimmune process when induced late but not early during pathogenesis. J Immunol 166(12):7023-32 |
| abstractText | We report here that islet-specific expression of TNF-alpha can play a dual role in autoimmune diabetes, depending on its precise timing in relation to the ongoing autoimmune process. In a transgenic model (rat insulin promoter-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) of virally induced diabetes, TNF-alpha enhanced disease incidence when induced through an islet-specific tetracycline-dependent promoter system early during pathogenesis. Blockade of TNF-alpha during this phase prevented diabetes completely, suggesting its pathogenetic importance early in disease development. In contrast, TNF-alpha expression abrogated the autoimmune process when induced late, which was associated with a reduction of autoreactive CD8 lymphocytes in islets and their lytic activities. Thus, the fine-tuned kinetics of an autoreactive process undergo distinct stages that respond in a differential way to the presence of TNF-alpha. This observation has importance for understanding the complex role of inflammatory cytokines in autoimmunity. |
