Deficiency of phenotypic cytotoxic-suppressor T lymphocytes in the BB/W rat.

The BB/W rat is currently the best model of type I (insulin dependent diabetes). Even though this rat develops an autoimmune disease, they are immune deficient. In this study we have demonstrated the almost complete absence of the OX 8+, OX 19+ T cytotoxic/suppressor population in diabetes prone and acute diabetic rats. This population is present in the diabetes resistant W line. The diabetes prone and acute diabetic rats have a relative increase in OX 8+, OX 19- natural killer (NK) cells. Our data suggests that virtually all OX 8+ cells in diabetes prone and acute diabetic animals are phenotypic NK cells.