Prevention of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in non-obese diabetic mice by transgenes encoding modified I-A beta-chain or normal I-E alpha-chain

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a disease with an autoimmune aetiology. The inbred non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse strain provides a good animal model of the human disease and genetic analysis suggests that, as in man, at least one of the several genes controlling the development of IDDM is linked to the major histocompatibility complex. The NOD mouse does not express I-E owing to a deletion in the promoter region of the I-E alpha-chain gene, and the sequence of NOD I-A beta-chain in the first external domain is unique with His 56 and Ser 57 replacing Pro and Asp, respectively, at these positions. There has been considerable interest in the role amino acid 57 might have in conferring susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, including IDDM. The presence of a charged residue (such as Asp) at this position might affect the conformation of the peptide binding groove. But it could be assumed that Pro 56 gives rise to a different conformation of I-A beta-chain than does His 56. We therefore constructed transgenic NOD mice in which the transgene encoded a modified A beta nod with Pro 56, and studied its effect on the development of IDDM in this mouse strain. Previous studies have suggested that NOD mice expressing I-E as a result of the introduction of an I-E alpha-chain (E alpha) transgene are protected from the development of insulitis and hence IDDM. To explore further the protective effect of this molecule we constructed a second class of transgenic NOD mouse carrying an E alpha d transgene. Both transgenes protected the mice from IDDM, but this was not associated with a complete deletion of any T cells expressing commonly used T-cell receptor V beta genes.     

Structural polymorphism of I-E subregion antigens determined by a gene in the H-2K to I-B genetic interval

THE generation of immune responses in mice is influenced by Ir genes located in the I region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)(1). In some instances maximum responses require complementation by two genes, one in the I-A or I-B and the other in the I-E or I-C subregion(2,3). The effects of these genes are thought to be mediated by Ia alloantigens, which are cell surface molecules whose expression is controlled by the I region(4). This is based on the observations that anti-Ia sera inhibit in vitro immune responses(5,6), and soluble factors that enhance in vitro immune responses express Ia alloantigenic determinants(7,9). Jones et al.(10), using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, observed that the expression of I-E subregion antigens is controlled by two genes, one in the I-A subregion, the other in the I-E subregion, and that the polymorphism of these antigens is influenced by an I-A subregion gene. As an explanation, the authors proposed that only one of the two polypeptide chains present in I-E immunoprecipitates is an I-E subregion product, the second being a product of the I-A subregion. Antisera obtained by cross-immunisation of I-E subregion-disparate strains of mice immunoprecipitates a molecular complex consisting of two chains, designated alpha and beta, with molecular weights of 32,000 and 29,000 respectively(11-14). Previous studies suggested that I-E antigens isolated from B10.A(5R) and B10.D2 mice had identical alpha-chains but different (beta)-chains(15). However, as these mice differed at multiple genetic regions, it was not possible to show which I subregion(s) determined the polymorphism of the E(beta) chain. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the I-A subregion on the polymorphism of I-E subregion antigens. We have now shown by peptide mapping that the I-E subregion polymorphism which Jones et al. found to be controlled by the I-A subregion probably reflects structural polymorphism of beta-chains controlled by an I-A subregion gene.     

Localization of type 1 diabetes susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 is associated with susceptibility to more common diseases than any other region of the human genome, including almost all disorders classified as autoimmune. In type 1 diabetes the major genetic susceptibility determinants have been mapped to the MHC class II genes HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 (refs 1-3), but these genes cannot completely explain the association between type 1 diabetes and the MHC region. Owing to the region's extreme gene density, the multiplicity of disease-associated alleles, strong associations between alleles, limited genotyping capability, and inadequate statistical approaches and sample sizes, which, and how many, loci within the MHC determine susceptibility remains unclear. Here, in several large type 1 diabetes data sets, we analyse a combined total of 1,729 polymorphisms, and apply statistical methods-recursive partitioning and regression-to pinpoint disease susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A (risk ratios >1.5; P(combined) = 2.01 x 10(-19) and 2.35 x 10(-13), respectively) in addition to the established associations of the MHC class II genes. Other loci with smaller and/or rarer effects might also be involved, but to find these, future searches must take into account both the HLA class II and class I genes and use even larger samples. Taken together with previous studies, we conclude that MHC-class-I-mediated events, principally involving HLA-B*39, contribute to the aetiology of type 1 diabetes.     

Genetic analysis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus in mice.

Two genes, Idd-3 and Idd-4, that influence the onset of autoimmune type 1 diabetes in the nonobese diabetic mouse have been located on chromosomes 3 and 11, outside the chromosome 17 major histocompatibility complex. A genetic map of the mouse genome, analysed using the polymerase chain reaction, has been assembled specifically for the study. On the basis of comparative maps of the mouse and human genomes, the homologue of Idd-3 may reside on human chromosomes 1 or 4 and Idd-4 on chromosome 17.     

Prevention of diabetes in non-obese diabetic I-Ak transgenic mice

The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse develops insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with mononuclear cell infiltration of the islets of Langerhans and selective destruction of the insulin-producing beta-cells, as in humans. Most infiltrating cells are T lymphocytes, and most of these carry the CD4 antigen. Adoptive transfer of T cells from diabetic NOD mice into irradiated NOD or athymic nude NOD mice induces diabetes. Susceptibility to IDDM in NOD mice is polygenic, with one gene linked to the major histocompatibility complex class II locus, which in NOD mice expresses a unique I-A molecule but no I-E. Speculation exists as to the role of the I-A molecule in the diabetes susceptibility of NOD mice, especially regarding the significance of specific unique residues. To examine the role of the NOD I-A molecule in IDDM pathogenesis, we made NOD/Lt mice transgenic for I-Ak by microinjecting I-Ak alpha- and beta-genes into fertilized NOD/Lt eggs. Insulitis was markedly reduced and diabetes prevented in NOD/Lt mice expressing I-Ak.     

The origin of MHC class II gene polymorphism within the genus Mus

The I region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the mouse (H-2) contains a tightly-linked cluster of highly polymorphic genes (class II MHC genes) which control immune responsiveness. Speculation on the origin of this polymorphism, which is believed to be essential for the function of the class II proteins in immune responses to disease, has given rise to two hypotheses. The first is that hypermutational mechanisms (gene conversion or segmental exchange) promote the rapid generation of diversity in MHC genes. The alternative is that polymorphism has arisen from the steady accumulation of mutations over long evolutionary periods, and multiple specific alleles have survived speciation (trans-species evolution). We have looked for evidence of 'segmental exchange' and/or 'trans-species evolution' in the class II genes of the genus Mus by molecular genetic analysis of I-A beta alleles. The results indicate that greater than 90% (28 out of 31) of the alleles examined can be organized into two evolutionary groups both on the basis of restriction site polymorphisms and by the presence or absence of a short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE). Using this SINE sequence as an evolutionary tag, we demonstrate that I-A beta alleles in these two evolutionary groups diverged at least three million years ago and have survived the speciation events leading to several modern Mus species. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of eight Mus m. domesticus I-A beta alleles representing all three evolutionary groups indicate that most of the divergence in exon sequences is due to the steady accumulation of mutations that are maintained independently in the different alleles. But segmental exchanges between alleles from different evolutionary groups have also played a role in the diversification of beta 1 exons.     

A molecular map of the immune response region from the major histocompatibility complex of the mouse

A stretch of 200 kilobases (kb) of DNA from the I region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex has been cloned and characterized. It contains the genes for the biochemically defined class II proteins E alpha, E beta and A beta. DNA blot analyses suggest that the I region may contain only 6-8 class II genes. Correlation of our molecular map with the genetic map of the I region confines two of the five I subregions, I-J and I-B, to less than 3.4 kb of DNA at the 3' end of the E beta gene where a hotspot for recombination has been observed. Indeed, the I-A and I-E subregions may be contiguous. If so, the I-B and I-J subregions are not encoded in the I region between the I-A and I-E subregions.     

Direct evidence for the contribution of the unique I-ANOD to the development of insulitis in non-obese diabetic mice

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes into the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas (insulitis) followed by destruction of insulin-secreting beta-cells leading to overt diabetes. The best model for the disease is the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Two unusual features of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the NOD mouse are the absence of I-E and the presence of unique I-A molecules (I-ANOD), in which aspartic acid at position 57 of the beta-chain is replaced by serine. This feature is also found in the HLA-DQ chain of many Caucasians with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We have previously reported that the expression of I-E prevents the development of insulitis in NOD mouse. Here we report that the expression of I-Ak (A alpha kA beta k) in transgenic NOD mice can also prevent insulitis, and that this protection is seen not only when the I-A beta-chain has aspartic acid as residue 57, but also when this residue is serine. These results show that the single amino-acid substitution at position 57 of the I-A beta-chain from aspartic acid to serine is not sufficient for the development of the disease.     

Prevention of autoimmune insulitis by expression of I-E molecules in NOD mice

The NOD (non-obese diabetic) mouse spontaneously develops insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) characterized by autoimmune insulitis, involving lymphocytic infiltration around and into the islets followed by pancreatic beta (beta) cell destruction, similar to human IDDM. Genetic analysis in breeding studies between NOD and C57BL/6 mice has demonstrated that two recessive genes on independent chromosomes contribute to the development of insulitis. One of the two recessive diabetogenic genes was found to be linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This is of interest, because the NOD strain has a unique class II MHC: it does not express I-E molecules as no messenger RNA for the alpha-chain of I-E is visible in Northern blot analysis; I-A molecules are not detected with any available monoclonal antibodies or by allo-reactive or autoreactive T-cell clones, although their expression is demonstrated with a conventional antiserum to Ia antigens. To examine whether the unusual expression of class II MHC molecules may be responsible for the development of autoimmune insulitis, we attempted to express I-E molecules in NOD mice selectively, without introducing other genes on chromosome 17 by using I-E-expressing C57BL/6 (B6(E alpha d)) transgenic mice. We report here that the expression of I-E molecules in NOD mice can prevent the development of autoimmune insulitis.     

Susceptibility to murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis maps to class I MHC genes--a model for MHC/disease associations

Susceptibility to some human diseases is linked, albeit weakly, to major transplantation antigens (HLA) encoded by the major histocompatibility gene complex (MHC). Here we have studied MHC/disease association in inbred strains of mice after intracerebral (i.c.) injection of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). This route of infection leads to a lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) which is not the result of direct cytopathic effects of the virus but is caused by the induced T-cell immune response: immunocompetent mice die whereas T-cell-deficient mice survive. By using two plaque variants of LCMV strain UBC (refs 7,8), we found that susceptibility to LCM was dependent on the LCMV strain used ('aggressive' versus 'docile' UBC-LCMV) and on the various genes of the host mouse strains. In addition, susceptibility to LCM caused by docile UBC-LCMV was clearly linked to the murine major histocompatibility locus H-2D: in MHC-congeneic C57BL/10 mice, susceptibility correlated with early onset and high activity of measurable LCMV-specific cytotoxic T cells in meninges and spleens and could be mapped to H-2D. This model shows that a severe immunopathologically mediated clinical disease in mice can be regulated directly by MHC genes of class I type and supports the notion that many MHC/disease associations directly reflect MHC-restricted and MHC-regulated T-cell reactivity.     

Identification and mapping to chromosome 1 of a susceptibility locus for periinsulitis in non-obese diabetic mice

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a polygenic disease caused by autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. Its onset is preceded by a long and variable period in which lymphoid cells infiltrate the pancreas but first remain outside the islets (peri-insulitis) before invading them (insulitis). Among susceptibility loci, only the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been clearly assigned. Genetic study of the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has revealed genetic linkage of insulitis and of early onset diabetes with two non-MHC loci mapping to chromosome 3 and 11 respectively. Here we report a close association of periinsulitis with a third non-MHC locus mapping to chromosome 1. Successive stages in the progression of diabetic disease thus appear to be controlled by distinct genes or sets of genes.     

HLA-D region beta-chain DNA endonuclease fragments differ between HLA-DR identical healthy and insulin-dependent diabetic individuals

The human HLA-D histocompatibility region encodes class II antigens each of which consists of two polypeptide chains (alpha and beta) inserted in the plasma membrane. These molecules are implicated in the regulation of the immune response but several human diseases are also found to be associated with certain HLA-DR antigens. The occurrence of insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes (IDDM) is strongly associated with HLA-DR3 and/or 4 (ref. 5). The class II antigens, however, show a marked genetic polymorphism associated with the beta-chains which seem, from hybridization studies, to be encoded by several genes. We have therefore used the beta-chain cDNA probe, pDR-beta-1 (refs 8, 10) to test whether there are differences in hybridization pattern between DNA from healthy individuals and diabetic patients, after digestion with restriction endonucleases. Among the HLA-DR 4 and 3/4 individuals, the IDDM patients showed an increased frequency of a PstI 18 kilobase (kb) fragment. A BamHI 3.7 kb fragment, frequent among controls (30-40%), was rarely detected in the IDDM patients (0-2%). These differences may be related to susceptibility to develop the disease.     

Prime role for an insulin epitope in the development of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice

A fundamental question about the pathogenesis of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes is whether there are primary autoantigens. For type 1 diabetes it is clear that multiple islet molecules are the target of autoimmunity in man and animal models. It is not clear whether any of the target molecules are essential for the destruction of islet beta cells. Here we show that the proinsulin/insulin molecules have a sequence that is a primary target of the autoimmunity that causes diabetes of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. We created insulin 1 and insulin 2 gene knockouts combined with a mutated proinsulin transgene (in which residue 16 on the B chain was changed to alanine) in NOD mice. This mutation abrogated the T-cell stimulation of a series of the major insulin autoreactive NOD T-cell clones. Female mice with only the altered insulin did not develop insulin autoantibodies, insulitis or autoimmune diabetes, in contrast with mice containing at least one copy of the native insulin gene. We suggest that proinsulin is a primary autoantigen of the NOD mouse, and speculate that organ-restricted autoimmune disorders with marked major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction of disease are likely to have specific primary autoantigens.     

Structural relationship of the SB beta-chain gene to HLA-D-region genes and murine I-region genes

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) regulates several aspects of the immune response. Class II antigens of the MHC control cellular interactions between lymphocytes. In man, at least three class II antigens (DR, DC and SB), consisting of distinct alpha- and beta-chains, are encoded in the HLA complex. Sequence analysis has established that the DR and DC antigens are the respective structural counterparts of the murine I-E and I-A antigens. Molecular cloning of the SB beta-chain gene has now enabled us to define its relationship to other class II genes. The DR, DC and SB beta genes have diverged from each other to the same extent. In murine DNA and in cloned genes from the I region, the best hybridization of SB beta DNA is with the E beta 2 sequence. E beta 2 may belong to a complete gene (E' beta) because first domain sequences were found adjacent to it.     

Site-independent expression of the chicken beta A-globin gene in transgenic mice

The level of expression of exogenous genes carried by transgenic mice typically varies from mouse to mouse and can be quite low. This behaviour is attributed to the influence of the mouse chromatin near the site of transgene integration. This 'position effect' has been seen in transgenic mice carrying the human beta-globin gene. It was however, abolished when DNase I hypersensitive sites (normally found 65 to 44 kilobases (kb) upstream) were linked to the human beta-globin transgene. Thus, the upstream DNA (previously named a dominant control or locus activation region, now denoted a locus control region) conferred the ability to express human beta-globin at high levels dependent on copy number on every mouse carrying the construct. We report here an investigation of chicken beta A-globin gene expression in transgenic mice. A 4.5-kb fragment carrying the beta A-globin gene and its downstream enhancer, without any far upstream elements, is sufficient to ensure that every transgenic mouse expresses chicken globin messenger RNA at levels proportional to the transgene copy number. Thus the chicken DNA elements that allow position-independent expression can function in mice. In marked contrast to the human beta cluster, these elements are no farther than 2 kb from the gene. The location of the elements within the cluster demonstrates that position independence can be mediated by DNA that does not define a gene cluster boundary.     

Remission in models of type 1 diabetes by gene therapy using a single-chain insulin analogue

A cure for diabetes has long been sought using several different approaches, including islet transplantation, regeneration of beta cells and insulin gene therapy. However, permanent remission of type 1 diabetes has not yet been satisfactorily achieved. The development of type 1 diabetes results from the almost total destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells by autoimmune responses specific to beta cells. Standard insulin therapy may not maintain blood glucose concentrations within the relatively narrow range that occurs in the presence of normal pancreatic beta cells. We used a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) that expresses a single-chain insulin analogue (SIA), which possesses biologically active insulin activity without enzymatic conversion, under the control of hepatocyte-specific L-type pyruvate kinase (LPK) promoter, which regulates SIA expression in response to blood glucose levels. Here we show that SIA produced from the gene construct rAAV-LPK-SIA caused remission of diabetes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and autoimmune diabetic mice for a prolonged time without any apparent side effects. This new SIA gene therapy may have potential therapeutic value for the cure of autoimmune diabetes in humans.     

Variations in DNA elucidate molecular networks that cause disease

Identifying variations in DNA that increase susceptibility to disease is one of the primary aims of genetic studies using a forward genetics approach. However, identification of disease-susceptibility genes by means of such studies provides limited functional information on how genes lead to disease. In fact, in most cases there is an absence of functional information altogether, preventing a definitive identification of the susceptibility gene or genes. Here we develop an alternative to the classic forward genetics approach for dissecting complex disease traits where, instead of identifying susceptibility genes directly affected by variations in DNA, we identify gene networks that are perturbed by susceptibility loci and that in turn lead to disease. Application of this method to liver and adipose gene expression data generated from a segregating mouse population results in the identification of a macrophage-enriched network supported as having a causal relationship with disease traits associated with metabolic syndrome. Three genes in this network, lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), lactamase beta (Lactb) and protein phosphatase 1-like (Ppm1l), are validated as previously unknown obesity genes, strengthening the association between this network and metabolic disease traits. Our analysis provides direct experimental support that complex traits such as obesity are emergent properties of molecular networks that are modulated by complex genetic loci and environmental factors.     

An explanation for the protective effect of the MHC class II I-E molecule in murine diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is widely believed to be an autoimmune disease. Recent onset diabetics show destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells associated with a lymphocytic infiltrate (insulitis), with autoantibodies to beta-cells being found even before the onset of symptoms. Susceptibility to the disease is strongly influenced by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II polymorphism in both man and experimental animal models such as the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. As MHC class II molecules are usually associated with dominant immune responsiveness, it was surprising that introduction of a transgenic class II molecule, I-E, protected NOD mice from insulitis and diabetes. This could be explained by a change either in the target tissue or in the T cells presumed to be involved in beta-cell destruction. Recently, several studies have shown that I-E molecules are associated with ontogenetic deletion of T cells bearing antigen/MHC receptors encoded in part by certain T-cell receptor V beta gene segments. To determine the mechanism of the protective effect of I-E, we have produced cloned CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell lines from islets of recently diabetic NOD mice. These cloned lines are islet-specific and pathogenic in both I-E- and I-E+ mice. Both CD4+ and CD8+ cloned T cells bear receptors encoded by a V beta 5 gene segment, known to be deleted during development in I-E expressing mice. Our data provide, therefore, an explanation for the puzzling effect of I-E on susceptibility to diabetes in NOD mice.