Improved Specificity of Glutamate Decarboxylase 65 Autoantibody Measurement Using Luciferase-Based Immunoprecipitation System Assays.

Autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase (GADA) are widely used in the prediction and classification of type 1 diabetes. GADA radiobinding assays (RBAs) using N-terminally truncated antigens offer improved specificity, but radioisotopes limit the high-throughput potential for population screening. Luciferase-based immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assays are sensitive and specific alternatives to RBAs with the potential to improve risk stratification. The performance of assays using the Nanoluc luciferase (Nluc)-conjugated GAD65 constructs, Nluc-GAD65(96-585) and full length Nluc-GAD65(1-585), were evaluated in 434 well-characterized serum samples from patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes and first-degree relatives. Nonradioactive, high-throughput LIPS assays are quicker and require less serum than RBAs. Of 171 relatives previously tested single autoantibody positive for autoantibodies to full-length GAD65 by RBA but had not progressed to diabetes, fewer retested positive by LIPS using either truncated (n = 72) or full-length (n = 111) antigen. The Nluc-GAD65(96-585) truncation demonstrated the highest specificity in LIPS assays overall, but in contrast to RBA, N-terminus truncations did not result in a significant increase in disease-specificity compared with the full-length antigen. This suggests that binding of nonspecific antibodies is affected by the conformational changes resulting from addition of the Nluc antigen. Nluc-GAD65(96-585) LIPS assays offer low-blood-volume, high-specificity GADA tests for screening and diagnostics.

A novel, high-performance, low-volume, rapid luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay to detect autoantibodies to zinc transporter 8.

BACKGROUND: Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A) are thought to appear close to type 1 diabetes (T1D) onset and can identify high-risk multiple (≥2) autoantibody positive individuals. Radiobinding assays (RBA) are widely used for ZnT8A measurement but have limited sustainability. We sought to develop a novel, high-performance, non-radioactive luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay to replace RBA. METHODS: A custom dual C-terminal ZnT8 (aa268-369; R325/W325) heterodimeric antigen, tagged with a NanoluciferaseTM (Nluc-ZnT8) reporter, and LIPS assay was developed. Assay performance was evaluated by testing sera from new onset T1D (n = 573), healthy schoolchildren (n = 521), and selected first-degree relatives (FDRs) from the Bart's Oxford family study (n = 617; 164 progressed to diabetes). RESULTS: In new-onset T1D, ZnT8A levels by LIPS strongly correlated with RBA (Spearman's r = 0.89; P < 0.0001), and positivity was highly concordant (94.3%). At a high specificity (95%), LIPS and RBA had comparable assay performance [LIPS pROC-AUC(95) 0.032 (95% CI: 0.029-0.036); RBA pROC-AUC(95) 0.031 (95% CI: 0.028-0.034); P = 0.376]. Overall, FDRs found positive by LIPS or RBA had a comparable 20-year diabetes risk (52.6% and 59.7%, respectively), but LIPS positivity further stratified T1D risk in FDRs positive for at least one other islet autoantibody detected by RBA (P = 0.0346). CONCLUSION: This novel, high-performance, cheaper, quicker, higher throughput, low blood volume Nluc-ZnT8 LIPS assay is a safe, non-radioactive alternative to RBA with enhanced sensitivity and ability to discriminate T1D progressors. This method offers an advanced approach to current strategies to screen the general population for T1D risk for immunotherapy trials and to reduce rates of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis.

Maternal type 1 diabetes and relative protection against offspring transmission.

Type 1 diabetes is around twice as common in the offspring of men with type 1 diabetes than in the offspring of women with type 1 diabetes, but the reasons for this difference are unclear. This Review summarises the evidence on the rate of transmission of type 1 diabetes to the offspring of affected fathers compared with affected mothers. The findings of nine major studies are presented, describing the magnitude of the effect observed and the relative strengths and weaknesses of these studies. This Review also explores possible underlying mechanisms for this effect, such as genetic mechanisms (eg, the selective loss of fetuses with high-risk genes in mothers with type 1 diabetes, preferential transmission of susceptibility genes from fathers, and parent-of-origin effects influencing gene expression), environmental exposures (eg, exposure to maternal hyperglycaemia, exogenous insulin exposure, and transplacental antibody transfer), and maternal microchimerism. Understanding why type 1 diabetes is more common in the offspring of men versus women with type 1 diabetes will help in the identification of individuals at high risk of the disease and can pave the way in the development of interventions that mimic the protective elements of maternal type 1 diabetes to reduce the risk of disease in individuals at high risk.

Cancer incidence and mortality in 23 000 patients with type 1 diabetes in the UK: Long-term follow-up.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with raised risk of several cancers, but for type 1 diabetes risk data are fewer and inconsistent We assembled a cohort of 23 473 UK patients with insulin-treated diabetes diagnosed at ages <30, almost all of whom will have had type 1 diabetes, and for comparison 5058 diagnosed at ages 30 to 49, of whom we estimate two-thirds will have had type 2, and followed them for an average of 30 years for cancer incidence and mortality compared with general population rates. Patients aged <30 at diabetes diagnosis had significantly raised risks only for ovarian (standardised incidence ratio = 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.16-2.11; P < .01) and vulval (3.55; 1.94-5.96; P < .001) cancers, with greatest risk when diabetes was diagnosed at ages 10-14. Risks of cancer overall (0.89; 0.84-0.95; P < .001) and sites including lung and larynx were significantly diminished. Patients diagnosed with diabetes at ages 30 to 49 had significantly raised risks of liver (1.76;1.08-2.72) and kidney (1.46;1.03-2.00) cancers, and reduced risk of cancer overall (0.89; 0.84-0.95). The raised ovarian and vulval cancer risks in patients with type 1 diabetes, especially with diabetes diagnosed around pubertal ages, suggest possible susceptibility of these organs at puberty to metabolic disruption at diabetes onset. Reduced risk of cancer overall, particularly smoking and alcohol-related sites, might reflect adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

The importance of biomarker development for monitoring type 1 diabetes progression rate and therapeutic responsiveness.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition of children and adults in which immune cells target insulin-producing pancreatic ß-cells for destruction. This results in a chronic inability to regulate blood glucose levels. The natural history of T1D is well-characterized in childhood. Evidence of two or more autoantibodies to the islet antigens insulin, GAD, IA-2 or ZnT8 in early childhood is associated with high risk of developing T1D in the future. Prediction of risk is less clear in adults and, overall, the factors controlling the progression rate from multiple islet autoantibody positivity to onset of symptoms are not fully understood. An anti-CD3 antibody, teplizumab, was recently shown to delay clinical progression to T1D in high-risk individuals including adults and older children. This represents an important proof of concept for those at risk of future T1D. Given their role in risk assessment, islet autoantibodies might appear to be the most obvious biomarkers to monitor efficacy. However, monitoring islet autoantibodies in clinical trials has shown only limited effects, although antibodies to the most recently identified autoantigen, tetraspanin-7, have not yet been studied in this context. Measurements of beta cell function remain fundamental to assessing efficacy and different models have been proposed, but improved biomarkers are required for both progression studies before onset of diabetes and in therapeutic monitoring. In this mini-review, we consider some established and emerging predictive and prognostic biomarkers, including markers of pancreatic function that could be integrated with metabolic markers to generate improved strategies to measure outcomes of therapeutic intervention.

Evaluation and deployment of isotype-specific salivary antibody assays for detecting previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults.

BACKGROUND: Saliva is easily obtainable non-invasively and potentially suitable for detecting both current and previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there is limited evidence on the utility of salivary antibody testing for community surveillance. METHODS: We established 6 ELISAs detecting IgA and IgG antibodies to whole SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, to its receptor binding domain region and to nucleocapsid protein in saliva. We evaluated diagnostic performance, and using paired saliva and serum samples, correlated mucosal and systemic antibody responses. The best-performing assays were field-tested in 20 household outbreaks. RESULTS: We demonstrate in test accuracy (N = 320), spike IgG (ROC AUC: 95.0%, 92.8-97.3%) and spike IgA (ROC AUC: 89.9%, 86.5-93.2%) assays to discriminate best between pre-pandemic and post COVID-19 saliva samples. Specificity was 100% in younger age groups (0-19 years) for spike IgA and IgG. However, sensitivity was low for the best-performing assay (spike IgG: 50.6%, 39.8-61.4%). Using machine learning, diagnostic performance was improved when a combination of tests was used. As expected, salivary IgA was poorly correlated with serum, indicating an oral mucosal response whereas salivary IgG responses were predictive of those in serum. When deployed to household outbreaks, antibody responses were heterogeneous but remained a reliable indicator of recent infection. Intriguingly, unvaccinated children without confirmed infection showed evidence of exposure almost exclusively through specific IgA responses. CONCLUSIONS: Through robust standardisation, evaluation and field-testing, this work provides a platform for further studies investigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mucosal immunity with the potential for expanding salivo-surveillance to other respiratory infections in hard-to-reach settings.

If a person has been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 they will produce specific proteins, called antibodies. These are present in the saliva and blood. Saliva is easier to obtain than blood, so we developed and evaluated six tests that detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in saliva in children and adults. Some tests detected antibodies to a particular protein made by SARS-CoV-2 called the spike protein, and these tests worked best. The most accurate results were obtained by using a combination of tests. Similar tests could also be developed to detect other respiratory infections which will enable easier identification of infected individuals.

Increased levels of anti-BSA antibodies in children with Down syndrome.

Introduction: Autoimmune diabetes occurs more often in the first 2 years of life in children with Down syndrome (DS) compared with the general population. We previously observed increased frequencies of islet autoantibodies, including insulin autoantibodies (IAA), in children with DS. Assays for IAA using 125I-labelled insulin require competition to overcome cross reactivity with antibodies to the cow's milk protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). 125I-IAA assay results suggested that levels of antibodies to BSA may also be increased in children with DS. The aim of this study therefore was to determine whether the levels of anti-BSA antibodies differed in children with DS compared with controls. Methods: Samples were available from two populations with DS: one from the UK, (UK DS cohort n=106, 58 male, median age 12.5 years) and one from Estonia (Estonian DS cohort: n=121, 65 male, median age 9.75 years). A UK control population was provided by sex and age-matched healthy siblings of probands participating in the Bart's Oxford (BOX) family study of type 1 diabetes. A competitive-displacement radiobinding assay (RBA) and a Dissociation Enhanced Lanthanide Fluoroimmunoassay (DELFIA) were developed to measure and confirm anti-BSA antibody levels. HLA class II genotype was analysed by PCR using sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). Results: Overall, levels of anti-BSA antibodies were increased in those with DS compared with controls (p<0.0001) but this was not HLA associated. Conclusion: Increased levels of anti-BSA antibodies may reflect a defect in immune maturation or increased gut permeability in children with DS, increasing their risk of developing autoimmunity.

Exocrine Proteins Including Trypsin(ogen) as a Key Biomarker in Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proteomic profiling can identify useful biomarkers. Monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for a condition represent an ideal test population. We aimed to investigate and validate proteomic profiling in twins with type 1 diabetes and in other well-characterized cohorts. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A broad, multiplex analysis of 4,068 proteins in serum samples from MZ twins concordant (n = 43) and discordant (n = 27) for type 1 diabetes identified major differences that were subsequently validated by a trypsin(ogen) assay in MZ pairs concordant (n = 39) and discordant (n = 42) for type 1 diabetes, individuals at risk for (n = 195) and with (n = 990) type 1 diabetes, as well as individuals with non-insulin-requiring adult-onset diabetes diagnosed as either autoimmune (n = 96) or type 2 (n = 291). RESULTS: Proteomic analysis identified major differences between exocrine enzyme levels in discordant MZ twin pairs despite a strong correlation between twins, whether concordant or discordant for type 1 diabetes (P < 0.01 for both). In validation experiments, trypsin(ogen) levels were lower in twins with diabetes than in the co-twin without diabetes (P < 0.0001) and healthy control participants (P < 0.0001). In recently diagnosed participants, trypsin(ogen) levels were lower than in control participants across a broad age range. In at-risk relatives, levels <15 ng/mL were associated with an increased risk of progression (uncorrected P = 0.009). Multiple linear regression in recently diagnosed participants showed that trypsin(ogen) levels were associated with insulin dose and diabetic ketoacidosis, while age and BMI were confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 diabetes is associated with altered exocrine function, even before onset. Twin data suggest roles for genetic and nongenetically determined factors. Exocrine/endocrine interactions are important underinvestigated factors in type 1 diabetes.

Development and evaluation of low-volume tests to detect and characterize antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Low-volume antibody assays can be used to track SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in settings where active testing for virus is limited and remote sampling is optimal. We developed 12 ELISAs detecting total or antibody isotypes to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid, spike protein or its receptor binding domain (RBD), 3 anti-RBD isotype specific luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assays and a novel Spike-RBD bridging LIPS total-antibody assay. We utilized pre-pandemic (n=984) and confirmed/suspected recent COVID-19 sera taken pre-vaccination rollout in 2020 (n=269). Assays measuring total antibody discriminated best between pre-pandemic and COVID-19 sera and were selected for diagnostic evaluation. In the blind evaluation, two of these assays (Spike Pan ELISA and Spike-RBD Bridging LIPS assay) demonstrated >97% specificity and >92% sensitivity for samples from COVID-19 patients taken >21 days post symptom onset or PCR test. These assays offered better sensitivity for the detection of COVID-19 cases than a commercial assay which requires 100-fold larger serum volumes. This study demonstrates that low-volume in-house antibody assays can provide good diagnostic performance, and highlights the importance of using well-characterized samples and controls for all stages of assay development and evaluation. These cost-effective assays may be particularly useful for seroprevalence studies in low and middle-income countries.

The measurement of autoantibodies to insulin informs diagnosis of diabetes in a childhood population negative for other autoantibodies.

AIMS: Some childhood type 1 diabetes cases are islet autoantibody negative at diagnosis. Potential explanations include misdiagnosis of genetic forms of diabetes or insufficient islet autoantibody testing. Many NHS laboratories offer combinations of three autoantibody markers. We sought to determine the benefit of testing for additional islet autoantibodies, including insulin (IAA) and tetraspanin 7 (TSPAN7A). METHODS: Radiobinding assays (RBAs) were used to test for four islet autoantibodies in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (n = 486; 54.1% male; median age 10.4 years [range 0.7-18.0]; median duration 1 day [range -183 to 14]). Islet autoantibody negative children were tested for TSPAN7A using a luminescence-based test. Where available, islet cell antibody (ICA) and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) data were considered. RESULTS: Using three autoantibody markers, 21/486 (4.3%) children were autoantibody negative. Testing for IAA classified a further 9/21 (42.9%) children as autoantibody positive. Of the remaining 12 (2.5%) autoantibody negative children, all were TPAN7A negative, seven were ICA negative and one was positive for the protective variant DQB1*0602. One was subsequently diagnosed with Maturity Onset of Diabetes in the Young, but follow-up was not available in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Using highly sensitive assays, testing for three autoantibodies fails to detect islet autoimmunity in approximately 1/20 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Testing for IAA in children <5 years and GADA in those >10 years was the most effective strategy for detecting islet autoimmunity. The ability to test for all islet autoantibodies should inform clinical decisions and make screening for monogenic diabetes more cost-effective.

Activated but functionally impaired memory Tregs are expanded in slow progressors to type 1 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Slow progressors to type 1 diabetes are individuals positive for multiple pancreatic islet autoantibodies who have remained diabetes-free for at least 10 years; regulation of the autoimmune response is understudied in this group. Here, we profile CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in a small but well-characterised cohort of extreme slow progressors with a median age 43 (range 31-72 years), followed up for 18-32 years. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from slow progressors (n = 8), age- and sex-matched to healthy donors. One participant in this study was identified with a raised HbA1c at the time of assessment and subsequently diagnosed with diabetes; this donor was individually evaluated in the analysis of the data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and to assess frequency, phenotype and function of Tregs in donors, multi-parameter flow cytometry and T cell suppression assays were performed. Unsupervised clustering analysis, using FlowSOM and CITRUS (cluster identification, characterization, and regression), was used to evaluate Treg phenotypes. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering on memory CD4+ T cells from slow progressors showed an increased frequency of activated memory CD4+ Tregs, associated with increased expression of glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR), compared with matched healthy donors. One participant with a raised HbA1c at the time of assessment had a different Treg profile compared with both slow progressors and matched controls. Functional assays demonstrated that Treg-mediated suppression of CD4+ effector T cells from slow progressors was significantly impaired, compared with healthy donors. However, effector CD4+ T cells from slow progressors were more responsive to Treg suppression compared with healthy donors, demonstrated by increased suppression of CD25 and CD134 expression on effector CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS: We conclude that activated memory CD4+ Tregs from slow progressors are expanded and enriched for GITR expression, highlighting the need for further study of Treg heterogeneity in individuals at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: Current Understanding and Challenges.

Recent epidemiological data have shown that more than half of all new cases of type 1 diabetes occur in adults. Key genetic, immune, and metabolic differences exist between adult- and childhood-onset type 1 diabetes, many of which are not well understood. A substantial risk of misclassification of diabetes type can result. Notably, some adults with type 1 diabetes may not require insulin at diagnosis, their clinical disease can masquerade as type 2 diabetes, and the consequent misclassification may result in inappropriate treatment. In response to this important issue, JDRF convened a workshop of international experts in November 2019. Here, we summarize the current understanding and unanswered questions in the field based on those discussions, highlighting epidemiology and immunogenetic and metabolic characteristics of adult-onset type 1 diabetes as well as disease-associated comorbidities and psychosocial challenges. In adult-onset, as compared with childhood-onset, type 1 diabetes, HLA-associated risk is lower, with more protective genotypes and lower genetic risk scores; multiple diabetes-associated autoantibodies are decreased, though GADA remains dominant. Before diagnosis, those with autoantibodies progress more slowly, and at diagnosis, serum C-peptide is higher in adults than children, with ketoacidosis being less frequent. Tools to distinguish types of diabetes are discussed, including body phenotype, clinical course, family history, autoantibodies, comorbidities, and C-peptide. By providing this perspective, we aim to improve the management of adults presenting with type 1 diabetes.

Four decades of the Bart's Oxford study: Improved tests to predict type 1 diabetes.

Recent success in clinical trials to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes has heralded a new era of type 1 diabetes research focused on the most accurate methods to predict risk and progression rate in the general population. Risk prediction for type 1 diabetes has been ongoing since the 1970s and 1980s when human leucocyte antigen (HLA) variants and islet autoantibodies associated with type 1 diabetes were first described. Development of prediction methodologies has relied on well-characterised cohorts and samples. The Bart's Oxford (BOX) study of type 1 diabetes has been recruiting children with type 1 diabetes and their first (and second)-degree relatives since 1985. In this review, we use the timeline of the study to review the accompanying basic science developments which have facilitated improved prediction by genetic (HLA analysis through to genetic risk scores) and biochemical strategies (islet cell autoantibodies through to improved individual tests for antibodies to insulin, glutamate decarboxylase, the tyrosine phosphatase IA-2, zinc transporter 8 and tetraspanin 7). The type 1 diabetes community are poised to move forward using the best predictive markers to predict and delay the onset of type 1 diabetes.

Young infants exhibit robust functional antibody responses and restrained IFN-γ production to SARS-CoV-2.

Severe COVID-19 appears rare in children. This is unexpected, especially in young infants, who are vulnerable to severe disease caused by other respiratory viruses. We evaluate convalescent immune responses in 4 infants under 3 months old with confirmed COVID-19 who presented with mild febrile illness, alongside their parents, and adult controls recovered from confirmed COVID-19. Although not statistically significant, compared to seropositive adults, infants have high serum levels of IgG and IgA to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with a corresponding functional ability to block SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. Infants also exhibit robust saliva anti-spike IgG and IgA responses. Spike-specific IFN-γ production by infant peripheral blood mononuclear cells appears restrained, but the frequency of spike-specific IFN-γ- and/or TNF-α-producing T cells is comparable between infants and adults. On principal-component analysis, infant immune responses appear distinct from their parents. Robust functional antibody responses alongside restrained IFN-γ production may help protect infants from severe COVID-19.

Early Onset of Autoimmune Diabetes in Children with Down Syndrome-Two Separate Aetiologies or an Immune System Pre-Programmed for Autoimmunity?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: An increased frequency of autoimmunity in children with Down syndrome (DS) is well described but few studies have investigated the underlying mechanisms. Recent immune system investigation of individuals with DS may shed light on the increased risk of autoimmune conditions including type 1 diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is accelerated in children with DS with 17% diagnosed at, or under, the age of 2 years compared with only 4% in the same age group in the general population. Counterintuitively, children with DS and diabetes have less human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mediated susceptibility than age-matched children with autoimmune diabetes from the general population. Early onset of diabetes in DS is further highlighted by the recent description of neonatal cases of diabetes which is autoimmune but not HLA associated. There are two potential explanations for this accelerated onset: (1) an additional chromosome 21 increases the genetic and immunological risk of autoimmune diabetes or (2) there are two separate aetiologies in children with DS and diabetes. Autoimmunity in DS is an under-investigated area. In this review, we will draw on recent mechanistic studies in individuals with DS which shed some light on the increased risk of autoimmunity in children with DS and consider the current support for and against two aetiologies underlying diabetes in children with DS.

Maternal Microchimerism in Cord Blood and Risk of Celiac Disease in Childhood.

OBJECTIVES: During pregnancy, small quantities of maternal cells are naturally transmitted to the fetus. This transmission, termed maternal microchimerism (MMc), has been implicated in autoimmune diseases but its potential role is unclear. We aimed to investigate if MMc at birth predicted childhood celiac disease (CD) risk, a common immune-mediated enteropathy often presenting in childhood. METHODS: We designed a case-control study, nested in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort. Participants were HLA class II typed to determine noninherited, nonshared maternal alleles (NIMA). Droplet digital (dd) PCR assays specific for common HLA class II NIMAs (HLA-DQB103:01, 04:02 and 06:02/03) were used to estimate the quantity of maternal DNA, as a marker of maternal cells, in cord blood DNA from 124 children who later developed clinically diagnosed CD (median age at end of study 7.4 years, range 3.6-12.9) and 124 random controls. We tested whether presence of MMc was associated with CD using logistic regression, and compared ranks between cases and controls. RESULTS: MMc, for example, maternal HLA antigens not inherited by the child, was found in 42% of cases and 43% of controls, and not associated with CD (odds ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-1.60). The ranks of MMc quantities in cases and controls were also similar (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.71). The subgroup with HLA-DQB1:03*01 as their NIMA had a potential association with MMc, where levels greater than median was associated with CD (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.28-11.18). CONCLUSION: MMc measured in cord blood was not associated with later risk of CD.

Slow progressors to type 1 diabetes lose islet autoantibodies over time, have few islet antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and exhibit a distinct CD95hi B cell phenotype.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to characterise islet autoantibody profiles and immune cell phenotypes in slow progressors to type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Immunological variables were compared across peripheral blood samples obtained from slow progressors to type 1 diabetes, individuals with newly diagnosed or long-standing type 1 diabetes, and healthy individuals. Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to characterise the phenotypic attributes of B and T cells. Islet autoantigen-specific B cells were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay and islet autoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells were quantified using peptide-HLA class I tetramers. Radioimmunoassays were used to detect islet autoantibodies. Sera were assayed for various chemokines, cytokines and soluble receptors via ELISAs. RESULTS: Islet autoantibodies were lost over time in slow progressors. Various B cell subsets expressed higher levels of CD95 in slow progressors, especially after polyclonal stimulation, compared with the corresponding B cell subsets in healthy donors (p < 0.05). The phenotypic characteristics of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were similar in slow progressors and healthy donors. Lower frequencies of CD4+ T cells with a central memory phenotype (CD27int, CD127+, CD95int) were observed in slow progressors compared with healthy donors (mean percentage of total CD4+ T cells was 3.00% in slow progressors vs 4.67% in healthy donors, p < 0.05). Autoreactive B cell responses to proinsulin were detected at higher frequencies in slow progressors compared with healthy donors (median no. of spots was 0 in healthy donors vs 24.34 in slow progressors, p < 0.05) in an ELISpot assay. Islet autoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses were largely absent in slow progressors and healthy donors. Serum levels of DcR3, the decoy receptor for CD95L, were elevated in slow progressors compared with healthy donors (median was 1087 pg/ml in slow progressors vs 651 pg/ml in healthy donors, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In this study, we found that slow progression to type 1 diabetes was associated with a loss of islet autoantibodies and a distinct B cell phenotype, consistent with enhanced apoptotic regulation of peripheral autoreactivity via CD95. These phenotypic changes warrant further studies in larger cohorts to determine their functional implications.

Maternal micro-chimeric cells in the multiple sclerosis brain.

Maternal microchimeric cells (MMC) pass across the placenta from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. MMC have been identified in healthy adults, but have been reported to be more frequent and at a higher concentration in individuals with autoimmune diseases. MMC in brain tissue from individuals with autoimmune neurological disease has never previously been explored. The present study aims to identify and quantify MMC in adult human brain from control and multiple sclerosis (MS) affected individuals using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with a probe for the X and Y chromosomes. Post mortem brain tissue from 6 male MS cases and 6 male control cases were examined. Female cells presumed to be MMC were identified in 5/6 MS cases and 6/6 control cases. Cell specific labeling identified female cells of neuronal and immune phenotype in both control and active MS lesion tissue. This study shows that female cells presumed to be MMC are a common phenomenon in adult human brain where they appear to have embedded into brain tissue with the ability to express tissue specific markers.

What Have Slow Progressors Taught Us About T1D-Mind the Gap!

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Progression rate from islet autoimmunity to clinical diabetes is unpredictable. In this review, we focus on an intriguing group of slow progressors who have high-risk islet autoantibody profiles but some remain diabetes free for decades. RECENT FINDINGS: Birth cohort studies show that islet autoimmunity presents early in life and approximately 70% of individuals with multiple islet autoantibodies develop clinical symptoms of diabetes within 10 years. Some "at risk" individuals however progress very slowly. Recent genetic studies confirm that approximately half of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is diagnosed in adulthood. This creates a conundrum; slow progressors cannot account for the number of cases diagnosed in the adult population. There is a large "gap" in our understanding of the pathogenesis of adult onset T1D and a need for longitudinal studies to determine whether there are "at risk" adults in the general population; some of whom are rapid and some slow adult progressors.