Abstract:
We examined pancreas biopsy specimens from 18 newly diagnosed insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients to elucidate the mechanism underlying beta cell
destruction. Pancreas islets were seen in all patients and insulitis in eight patients.
Infiltrating mononuclear cells consisted of CD4+T, CD8+T, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. Among them, CD8+T lymphocytes were predominant and macrophages followed. The expression of MHC class I antigens was increased in islet and endothelial cells in nine patients. MHC class II expression was increased in endothelial cells of the same patients. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-i was increased in endothelial cells in two of the nine patients with MHC hyperexpression; in one of them, lymphocyte functionassociated antigen-3 expression was also increased.
