Development of early-stage type 1 diabetes in germ-free interleukin-10 deficient mice

Several experimental models demonstrate a role for gut microbiota in the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in genetically prone hosts. While the association between disturbances in gut microbiota, or microbial dysbiosis, and complex immune diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are well established, less is known about its role in T1D pathogenesis. In IBD-prone interleukin-10 deficient (IL-10 KO) mice, the absence of gut microbiota under germ-free (GF) conditions prevents IBD development. However, in aged GF IL-10 KO mice (>6-months of age), polyuria and pancreatic lymphocytic infiltration resembling T1D lesions was observed. Approximately 50% of male and female mice above 6-months of age develop pancreatic immune cell infiltration, as compared to none in conventionally-raised and fecal microbiota transplanted (FMT) IL-10 KO counterparts. Immunofluorescence staining of islet infiltrates was positive for adaptive and innate immunological markers, including lymphoid and myeloid cell markers, which typically characterize autoimmune T1D lesions. A subset of GF IL-10 KO mice was also positive for insulin autoantibodies (IAA), but the majority of mice did not become diabetic. Our findings of early stage lymphocytic infiltrates in the pancreas and IAA in the absence of overt diabetes in GF IL-10 KO mice embody the early stages of T1D pathogenesis. As such, we propose that the presence of gut microbiota play a protective role against immune infiltration in the pancreas of genetically prone hosts. Moreover, our model provides an opportunity to better understand the role of the microbiota in the early stages of immune pathogenesis and perhaps conceive the development of microbe-mediated prophylactic strategies to treat or even prevent T1D.