Section: Research

Rita Bortell, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Diabetes
   Medicine

Other Affiliation(s):
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
   Program in Immunology and Virology

Pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes

A major goal of our research is to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus. For our investigations we use the BB rat model of type 1 diabetes. We have identified an ART2⁺ regulatory T cell that prevents diabetes in the BB rat. The ART2 protein can mediate signal transduction events through src family tyrosine kinases, and also belongs to the family of ADP-ribosyltransferase enzymes. We are using molecular, biochemical, and cellular approaches to determine whether one or both functions of the ART2 protein are important in the immunoregulatory activity of ART2-expressing T cells. We have also recently demonstrated the existence of a novel population of gut NK cells that express high levels of cell surface ART2 and spontaneously secrete IL-4 and IFN-gamma. These gut NK cells are profoundly deficient, prior to insulitis or diabetes, in spontaneous and induced models of diabetes. Based on our data and the well-known role of environmental factors--such as diet and enteromicrobial agents--to mediate diabetes outcome, we hypothesize that dysregulated gut immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes. We are currently investigating mechanisms by which inappropriate gut immune responses are translated into systemic autoimmunity in the BB rat.

Office: Biotech2, Suite 218
Phone: 508-856-3788
E-mail: Rita.Bortell@umassmed.edu

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