Mice expressing both B7-1 and viral glycoprotein on pancreatic beta cells along with glycoprotein-specific transgenic T cells develop diabetes due to a breakdown of T-lymphocyte unresponsiveness

Activation of self-reactive T cells may depend on aberrant B7 expression on peripheral tissues in mice. Several T-cell mediated autoimmune disease may involve extraordinary expression of costimulatory receptors. Transgenic mice expressing the costimulatory mouse molecule B7-1, a ligand for the CD28 receptor, have been analyzed.