8150 CD1a Lipid Presentation Contributes to T2D Phenotype in DIO Mouse Model

Abstract Disclosure: J.A. Ayala Angulo: None. K.D. Wiggins: None. M. Lopez: None. D. Nicholas: None. Type 2 Diabetes’s complex etiology, progression, and comorbidities are not fully explained by current models. Elevation of inflammatory markers and immune cell infiltration into tissues of T2D patients has been described in the literature extensively, but no clear answers as to what antigens are driving this response and how these observations contribute to disease progression exist. Recently, CD1a has been shown to present lipids to T cells and induce a memory response. Our previous work shows that T2D patients produce anti-lipid antibodies likely derived with T cell help, not present in healthy patients. Together, these data suggest a potential role for lipid-specific T cell responses to drive T2D progression through inflammatory stress, antibody production, and tissue infiltration. Current work with human CD1a transgenic B6 mice points to elevated liver steatosis and hepatitis along with higher glucose levels relative to low fat diet controls. CD1a mice show smaller islets suggesting pancreatic atrophy. This validates the CD1a-T cell mechanism as a potential contributor to T2D but also introduces a more physiologically relevant mouse model of T2D. Presentation: 6/1/2024