unc2025 and Diabetes-Mellitus--Type-1

Understanding mechanisms of immune regulation is key to developing immunotherapies for autoimmunity and cancer. We examined the role of mononuclear phagocytes during peripheral T cell regulation in type 1 diabetes and melanoma. MERTK expression and activity in mononuclear phagocytes in the pancreatic islets promoted islet T cell regulation, resulting in reduced sensitivity of T cell scanning for cognate antigen in prediabetic islets. MERTK-dependent regulation led to reduced T cell activation and effector function at the disease site in islets and prevented rapid progression of type 1 diabetes. In human islets, MERTK-expressing cells were increased in remaining insulin-containing islets of type 1 diabetic patients, suggesting that MERTK protects islets from autoimmune destruction. MERTK also regulated T cell arrest in melanoma tumors. These data indicate that MERTK signaling in mononuclear phagocytes drives T cell regulation at inflammatory disease sites in peripheral tissues through a mechanism that reduces the sensitivity of scanning for antigen leading to reduced responsiveness to antigen.

Topics: Adenine; Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Antigens; Autoimmunity; c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase; CD11 Antigens; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Female; Humans; Islets of Langerhans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, Transgenic; Neoplasms, Experimental; Phagocytes; Piperazines; T-Lymphocytes