Dendritic cell-based assays, but not mannosylation of antigen, improves detection of T-cell responses to proinsulin in type 1 diabetes.

In vitro detection of T-cell responses to autoantigens in type 1 diabetes is recognized as being technically challenging. We aimed to accurately measure cellular responses to proinsulin in patients with diabetes, and speculated that presentation of antigen by dendritic cells (DCs) would enhance the sensitivity of the peripheral blood assay. Antigen was mannosylated to facilitate uptake through DC surface mannose receptors to further improve the assay.