Tg(H2-Ea-Ins2)1Wehi

The transgene comprises nucleotides -1,903 through -39 of the 5' flanking sequence of the MHC Class II gene H2-Ea (k allele), containing the promoter, followed by a 909 base pair mouse (NOD strain) genomic DNA fragment containing the sequence encoding prepronsulin II and the SV40 small t intron and polyadenylation signal. Transgene-derived mRNA is detectable in spleen and thymus of transgenic NOD/LtWehi mice, but not of control littermates, by reverse transcription followed by PCR (RT/PCR) using either primers for H2-Eak and proinsulin or two proinsulin primers. Immunoreactive proinsulin is detectable in medium from cultured transgenic splenocytes only after 8 days' culture and at levels 10-2 - 10-3 times those of cultured islets or islet cells; levels are increased by culture with interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha. (J:100232)