Interleukin‐4‐expressing plasmid DNA inhibits reovirus type‐2‐triggered autoimmune insulitis in DBA/1 J suckling mice

Abstract

Summary. In this study we have examined the effect of systemic administration of T helper (Th) 2 cytokines on reovirus type‐2 (Reo‐2)‐triggered Th1‐mediated autoimmune insulitis with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in DBA/1J suckling mice. We have demonstrated clearly that the systemic administration of both interleukin (IL)‐4‐expressing plasmid DNA (pIL‐4) and recombinant IL‐4 (rIL‐4) inhibited the development of insulitis with IGT in a dose dependent manner as compared to untreated groups in Reo‐2‐infected DBA/1J suckling mice. The inhibitory effects of IL‐4 on the development of insulitis with IGT and the advantages of pIL‐4 as compared to rIL‐4 in this model are discussed.