Plasmid encoding interferon-gamma exacerbates reovirus type-2-induced diabetes in DBA/1 suckling mice.

This study was designed to examine the effects of administration of a plasmid encoding interferon(IFN)-gamma on reovirus type-2(Reo-2)-induced autoimmune insulitis in suckling DBA/1 mice. Cumulative incidences of diabetes and insulitis at 17 days post-infection in the mice treated with IFN-gamma-encoding plasmid were higher than those in control mice treated with "empty" plasmid. These results suggested that the IFN-gamma-encoding plasmid promoted autoimmune insulitis in Reo-2-induced diabetes.