Th1 and Th2 cytokines exert regulatory effects upon islet microvascular areas in the NOD mouse.

In this study, we show that intra- and peri-islet microvascular areas undergo different changes during the islet inflammation in the nonobese diabetes-prone female mice. Actually, although the islet vascular area (IVA) considerably decreases while the infiltration progresses, at 15 weeks of age, the peri-islet vascular bed is unexpectedly and significantly increased. On the contrary, the intra-IVA is significantly decreased, due to vessel dilation.