GAD-alum-treated patients displayed higher frequencies of in-vitro GAD65-induced CD4+CD25+CD127+ as well as CD4+CD25hiCD127lo and CD4+FoxP3+ cells compared to placebo. Moreover, GAD65 stimulation induced a population of CD4hi cells consisting mainly of CD25+CD127+, which was specific of GAD-alum-treated patients (16 of 25 versus one of 25 in placebo). Assessment of suppressive function in expanded regulatory T cells revealed no difference between GAD-alum- and placebo-treated individuals. Regulatory T cell frequency did not correlate with C-peptide secretion throughout the study. In conclusion, GAD-alum

NSC 683864 treatment induced both GAD65-reactive CD25+CD127+ and CD25hiCD127lo cells, but no difference in regulatory T cell function 4 years after GAD-alum treatment. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a consequence of an autoimmune reaction towards insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas. Immunomodulatory approaches to prevent or treat T1D have been developed and tested, with variable results [1-4]. Autoantigens may be used to induce immunologic tolerance as an alternative to immunosuppression [5]. Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) is one of the main antigens to which patients with T1D mount a destructive

immune response, www.selleckchem.com/products/INCB18424.html and autoantibodies directed against GAD65 (GADA) and T cells specific for GAD65 epitopes are common in T1D patients [6-8]. We have shown previously preservation of residual insulin secretion by GAD-alum treatment

in a Phase II clinical trial in children with recent-onset T1D [3]. In addition, trial participants treated with GAD-alum up-regulated CD4+CD25hiforkhead box P3+ (FoxP3+) cells in response to GAD65 stimulation in vitro Rho and had a predominant T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response [9, 10]. Preservation of C-peptide secretion was still detectable after 4 years in patients with <6 months T1D duration at baseline in the same trial [11], and the residual C-peptide secretion was accompanied by sustained high levels of GADA, increased memory T cell frequencies and T cell activation upon in-vitro GAD65 stimulation [12]. Recently, additional Phases II and III clinical trials of GAD-alum have been conducted both in Europe and the United States, neither finding an effect on preservation of insulin secretion [13, 14]. The present Phase II trial included patients with a T1D duration of <18 months, whereas the European Phase III trial included patients with a duration of <3 months, which may contribute to the discrepancy in outcome. Self-tolerance is maintained physiologically by regulatory T cells (Treg) in the periphery [15], and defects in Treg function have been hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease [16].