T-Lymphocyte–Receptor Repertoire of Infiltrating T Lymphocytes Into NOD Mouse Pancreas

This study analyzed T-lymphocyte–receptor V_β genes of infiltrating lymphocytes into the pancreases of 12-to 16-wk-old NOD mice with severe insulitis and 5-wk-old mice with mild insulitis by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. The V_β transcripts on infiltrating T lymphocytes into pancreases with severe insulitis in older NOD mice were diverse. In contrast, the V_β11 gene transcript was predominantly expressed on T lymphocytes in the pancreas in younger NOD mice with mild insulitis, suggesting the possible role of V_β11+ T lymphocytes in triggering insulitis in this species.