Induced pluripotent stem cell macrophages present antigen to proinsulin-specific T cell receptors from donor-matched islet-infiltrating T cells in type 1 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterised by loss of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Progress in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the human disease has been hampered by a dearth of appropriate human experimental models. We previously reported the characterisation of islet-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells from a deceased organ donor who had type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines derived from the above donor were differentiated into CD14(+) macrophages and tested for their capacity to present antigen to T cell receptors (TCRs) derived from islet-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells from the same donor. RESULTS: The iPSC macrophages displayed typical macrophage morphology, surface markers (CD14, CD86, CD16 and CD11b) and were phagocytic. In response to IFNγ treatment, iPSC macrophages upregulated expression of HLA class II, a characteristic that correlated with their capacity to present epitopes derived from proinsulin C-peptide to a T cell line expressing TCRs derived from islet-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells of the original donor. T cell activation was specifically blocked by anti-HLA-DQ antibodies but not by antibodies directed against HLA-DR. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study provides a proof of principle for the use of iPSC-derived immune cells for modelling key cellular interactions in human type 1 diabetes. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00125-019-04988-6) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.