Naked DNA in cells: An inducer of major histocompatibility complex molecules to evoke autoimmune responses?

We have produced transgenic mouse strains harboring class II major histocompatibility complex or interferon-gamma genes linked to the human insulin promoter.These experiments were designed to investigate the consequences of the expression of immunological effector molecules by nonimmunological cells.In both of these studies we observed the disap pearance from the pancreas of the insulin-producing p cells coinciding with the development of insulindependent diabetes mellitus.Transgenic mice expressing both chains of the I-A gene showed progressive atrophy of the islets of Langerhans, whereas mice expressing interferon-gamma suffered an inflammatory destruction of the islets.