NOD-PerL mice express the Igk light chain gene of islet-derived peripherin-specific B cell hybridoma H280. Approximately 50% of pancreatic islet associated B lymphocytes in NOD mice recognize the autoantigen peripherin. Peripherin is expressed widely in neuronal cell bodies and axons of the peripheral and central nervous system. Expression of peripherin also occurs in the peri-insular areas of postnatal mice NOD. The H280 clone was chosen since it was isolated from the islets of a recent T1D onset NOD mouse, exhibited strong peripherin binding, and neither its heavy or light chain demonstrate any evidence of affinity maturation.
Hemizygous NOD-PerL mice exhibit greatly accelerated Type 1 diabetes (T1D) onset, at a frequency of between 90-95% by 20 weeks of age. While control NOD/ShiLtJ mice (Stock No. 001976) T1D develops at a frequency of between 80-90% by 30-40 weeks of age. Insulitis development is also accelerated in this strain compared to controls.
When NOD-PerL mice are crossed with NOD-PerH mice, expressing the peripherin-specific B cell hybridoma H280 Ighm (IgM) and Ighd (IgD) heavy chain genes (Stock No. 028930), resulting NOD-PerIg mice have further accelerated T1D development and insulitis compared to the separate transgenic lines.
