Researchers at the University of Colorado have developed a mimotope of insulin B chain amino acids 9-23 (B:9-23) which shows a 100-fold better binding to the HLA-DQ8 molecule and allows for binding in a register that activates CD4 T cells in the nonobese mouse model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes and human peripheral blood. This allows for the ability to measure robust T cell responses in peripheral blood samples from T1D patients with the secretion of the inflammatory T-cells and can lead to monitoring of therapeutic efficacy in T1D patients. Dr. Michels’ data suggests T1D risk is related partly to the nature of insulin-specific T cell response (inflammatory versus regulatory cytokine production), and insulin antigen-specific immunotherapies with the B chain mimotope have the potential to induce regulatory immune responses. This work provides a method for identifying and monitoring T1D-associated T cell responses, provide individualized therapies and to effectively monitor T1D disease progression following therapies.
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