Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in man: XV. Cellular and molecular basis of deficient autologous mixed lymphocyte response in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The autologous mixed lymphocyte response (AMLR) and the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte response were deficient in a subset of patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Using a single set of HLA-identical twins, the cellular and molecular basis of deficient AMLR was investigated and appears to be due to a defect in both responder T cells and stimulator non-T cells. Interleukin-2 production was diminished in the patient but not in the healthy twin. The in vitro addition of purified interleukin-2 enhanced the depressed AMLR in the diseased twin. This suggests that the deficient AMLR in IDDM may be in part due to a deficiency in the production of interleukin-2.