Virus induced diabetes and the immune system. I. Suggestion that appearance of diabetes depends on immune reactions.

The participation of immune reactions in the EMC virus induced diabetes of the mouse was studied by immunosuppression with 500 R sublethal X-irradiation or 120 mg/kg Asta 5122, a cyclophosphamide derivative. Average glucose levels after X-irradiation and infection remained normal, while virus, infected, otherwise untreated mice, had significantly higher mean glucose levels, indicating that immune reactions are necessary for the development of virus induced diabetes. Immune suppression by the cyclophosphamide derivative led, in contrast, to a significantly increased mean glucose level and increased insulitis in comparison with the controls only infected. This indicates an important role of the cellular immune reaction, insulitis in the destruction of the islets.