Administration of silica or monoclonal antibody to Thy-1 prevents low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice.

Multiple injections of low doses of streptozotocin induce an experimental diabetes in mice. We have analyzed in two inbred strains whether the development of hyperglycaemia can be influenced by administration of macrophage-toxic silica particles or by a monoclonal antibody to Thy-1.2. Mice received streptozotocin (30 or 40 mg/kg) on five consecutive days (day 0-day 4) and in addition either silica particles (starting at day 0) or anti-Thy-1.2 (starting at day -2 or -3). In both strains mice receiving streptozotocin alone became hyperglycaemic within two weeks. Additional treatment with silica almost fully prevented diabetes development. Anti-Thy-1.2 administration was similarly effective in C57B1/Ks and partially protective in C57BL/6 mice. Histological analysis of pancreatic islets showed that a large fraction of beta cells had been spared from destruction by this treatment. The data indicate a role for both macrophages and Thy-1 positive cells in the pathogenesis of low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes.