Absolute Requirement of Macrophages for the Development and Activation of Beta-cell Cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells in T-cell Receptor Transgenic NOD Mice

The development of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice results from selective destruction of beta-cells by a T-cell-dependent autoimmune process. However, the mechanisms that control the generation of beta-cell cytotoxic T-cells in vivo are poorly understood. We recently established 8.3-T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta transgenic NOD mice that show a selective acceleration of the recruitment of CD8+ T-cells into the islets of prediabetic animals, resulting in rapid beta-cell destruction and early onset of diabetes. This study was initiated to determine the role of macrophages in the development and activation of diabetogenic CD8+ T-cells in 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice. Inactivation of macrophages in these transgenic mice resulted in the complete prevention of diabetes. When splenic T-cells from macrophage-depleted 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice were transfused into severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD.scid) mice, none of the recipients developed diabetes up to 10 weeks after transfer, while most of the recipients of T-cells from age-matched control 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice became diabetic. When intact NOD islets were transplanted under the renal capsule of macrophage-depleted 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice, the majority of the grafted islets remained intact, while most of the islets grafted into age-matched, control 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice were destroyed within 3 weeks after transplantation. The depletion of macrophages in these mice resulted in a decrease in the Th1 immune response along with an increase in the Th2 immune response because of significant decreases in the expression of macrophage-derived cytokines, particularly interleukin-12, and a decrease in beta-cell-specific T-cell activation, as shown by significant decreases in the expression of Fas ligand (FasL), CD40 ligand (CD40L), and perforin, as compared with control mice. We conclude that macrophages are absolutely required for the development and activation of beta-cell cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells in 8.3-TCR-beta transgenic NOD mice.