Prevention of diabetes and induction of non-specific suppressor cell activity in the BB rat by an immunomodulatory azaspirane, SK&F 106610.

Abstract

Immunomodulatory azaspirane compounds have immunosuppressive activity in animal models of autoimmune disease such as adjuvant-induced arthritis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The mechanism of action of azaspiranes appears to be the induction of antigen non-specific (natural) suppressor cell activity. In this study, we tested the azaspirane, SK&F 106610 in an animal model of autoimmune (type 1) diabetes, the BB rat. Oral administration of SK&F 106610 (15 mg/kg/day) to diabetes-prone BB rats, from age 30 days, significantly decreased diabetes incidence at 100 days from 80% (24 of 30 control rats) to 32% (10 of 31 drug-treated rats, P < 0.001). Protection from diabetes by SK&F 106610 was accompanied by decreased lymphocytic infiltration of the pancreatic islets (insulitis). No changes occurred in splenic T cell, B cell or macrophage subsets, or in proliferative responses to the mitogens lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin A (Con-A). Cell mixing experiments in vitro, however, revealed increased antigen non-specific suppressor activity (suppression of splenic lymphoproliferative response to Con-A) in spleens of SK&F 106610-treated rats. The suppressor cell activity was enriched in a low density fraction of splenic cells relatively depleted of T cells, B cells, macrophages and natural killer cells. These results indicate that the azaspirane compound, SK&F 106610 can prevent insulitis and autoimmune diabetes in BB rats and that these actions may be related to the activation of non-specific (natural) suppressor cells.

• Authors: A Rabinovitch, W L Suarez, H Y Qin, R F Power, A M Badger
• Journal: Journal of autoimmunity (J Autoimmun) Vol. 6 Issue 1 Pg. 39-49 (Feb 1993) ISSN: 0896-8411 [Print] England
• PMID: 8457285 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Piperidines
• Spiro Compounds
• SK&F 106610

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Autoimmune Diseases (immunology, pathology, prevention & control)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (immunology, pathology, prevention & control)
• Female
• Immunophenotyping
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Islets of Langerhans (pathology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Lymphocyte Subsets (immunology)
• Male
• Piperidines (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred BB (immunology)
• Spiro Compounds (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Spleen (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)