Ins2-Cxcl13 (commonly referred to as BLC) transgenic mice are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. On the B6.D2 background pancreatic islet structure is disrupted, strongly resembling severe insulitis. However, these mice have normal blood glucose levels, no decrease in B-cells and do not become overtly diabetic. Immunohistochemistry indicates Cxcl13 expression is significantly higher in the pancreatic islets than the follicular stromal cells of the lymph nodes while no expression was observed in the liver or kidney. Histopathology indicates 50% of the pancreatic islets are infiltrated with small nucleated cells. Immunohistochemistry and FACS analysis reveals that 90% of the infiltrating cells are B220+ naive B lymphcytes. In addition, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were present. Transgenic expression leads to the development of lymph node like structures that contain B and T cell zones, high endothelial venules, stromal cells and the chemokine Ccl21 (SLC), Luther SA et al; Immunity 2000.
On the NOD congenic background Tg(Ins2-Cxcl13) expression in the pancreas leads to accelerated diabetes (Donating investigator unpublished communication).
This strain is useful to the study of B cells and chemokines in the development of diabetes.
