Defective Suppressor Function in CD4+CD25+ T-Cells From Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a T-cell-mediated disease that is associated with loss of immunological tolerance to self-antigens. The mechanisms involved in maintenance of peripheral tolerance include a specialized subset of regulatory T-cells (Treg) within the CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cell population, but the function and phenotype of these cells in type 1 diabetes have not been investigated. We hypothesized that a deficiency in the CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg population or its function could contribute to the lack of self-tolerance evident in patients with type 1 diabetes. We show that although levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cells are normal in patients with recent-onset adult type 1 diabetes, the ability of the Tregs in this population to…