DEPRESSED SUPPRESSOR CELL-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (1) , 25-32
Abstract
Suppressor cell activity (SCA) was studied in 28 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), both newly diagnosed and of longer standing. Suppressive effect of peripheral blood lymphocytes from the patients was tested after 48 h of incubation with concanavalin A followed by inactivation. Suppression was measured as the ability of the lymphocytes to inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation in concanavalin A-stimulated normal donor lymphocytes. SCA was expressed in relation to the activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from simultaneously investigated healthy control individuals. SCA was significantly depressed in newly diagnosed diabetics and such patients displayed significantly lower SCA than did patients with duration of disease between 2-8 mo. and between 5-8 yr who had SCA not significantly different from healthy individuals. Impaired SCA, causing a decreased inhibition of aggressive lymphocytes, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.