Characterization of Autoreactive Regulatory and Conventional CD4 T Cells in Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes and Control Individuals (CARegT1D)

November 17, 2025 updated by: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by an autoimmune response leading to the destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The disease association with particular HLA class II alleles, particularly HLA-DQ8, indicates the implication of CD4 T cells in its aetiology. The hypothesis is therefore that T1D starts by the loss of tolerance in autoreactive CD4 T cells. This might result from alterations in conventional autoreactive CD4 T cells (Tcons), which drive disease, or autoreactive regulatory CD4 T cells expressing the transcription factor FOXP3 (Tregs), which normally maintain immune tolerance. The investigators expect that the characterization of HLA-DQ8-restricted Tcons and Tregs in recent onset HLA-DQ8+ T1D patients shall shed light on the molecular mechanisms underpinning T1D development. This knowledge will guide the development of novel cell therapies harnessing the power of genetically engineered Tregs expressing the relevant antigen receptor to restore immune homeostasis upon cell transfer. The ultimate goal is to reach a curative effect

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

During the development of type 1 diabetes (T1DM), regulatory T cells (Treg) are modified and their protective role is no longer optimal, particularly against pathology-specific autoreactive antigens. The hypothesis is that in patients with T1DM, the function and phenotype of Treg cells, as well as their receptor repertoire for the antigen to which they are specific (TCR), no longer allow them to control tolerance. The in-depth study of these cells, at both genetic and molecular levels, will enable a major breakthrough in our understanding of the pathophysiology of T1DM, and in the development of targeted cell therapy.

The investigators expect major/important differences between patient Tregs and those of the control population in this study, at the molecular, phenotypic and functional levels. These differences will highlight the TCRs recognizing the target self-antigens. In this way, investigators expect to be able to select a limited number of Treg TCRs that could ultimately be used in cell therapy to restore the protective role of Tregs in these patients.

Thus, this knowledge will enable to propose in the future a more effective immunotherapy with a long-term effect, in order to improve the management of patients with autoimmune diabetes and potentially cure them.

Accordingly, yhe investigators will study insulin-specific Tregs in T1DM patients and control individuals, as well as conventional T cells directed against the same antigen, which in patients are implicated in the disease. This will include a study of their functional status, their transcriptomic profile, as well as their TCRs and their fine recognition properties of the major diabetes self-antigen, insulin.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Phase

Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Name: Jacques BELTRAND, MD, PhD
Phone Number: +33 1 40 61 53 20
Email: jacques.beltrand@aphp.fr

Study Contact Backup

Name: Sarah BOUCHARD
Phone Number: + 33 1 42 19 28 79
Email: sarah.bouchard@aphp.fr

Study Locations

France
- - Paris, France, 75015
    - Recruiting
    - Hôpital Necker Enfants malades
    - Contact:
      
      Jacques BELTRAND, MD, PhD
      
      Phone Number: +33 1 40 61 53 20
      
      Email: jacques.beltrand@aphp.fr
    - Principal Investigator:
      
      Jacques BELTRAND, MD, PhD
    - Contact:
      
      Sarah BOUCHARD
      
      Phone Number: + 33 1 42 19 28 79
      
      Email: sarah.bouchard@aphp.fr

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

Child
Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Newly diagnosed T1DM group:

Age ≥ 2 years and < 18 years on day of inclusion;
Weight ≥ 12 kg;
Newly diagnosed T1DM, diagnosis defined according to International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) criteria by: hyperglycemia > 2g/L and/or ketonemia and/or polyuro-polydipsia and/or weight loss ;
Absence of other associated inflammatory or autoimmune diseases;
Affiliation with a health insurance scheme or beneficiary (excluding AME);
Written consent of parental guardians;
Ability to understand and read French.

Control group :

Age ≥ 2 years and < 18 years on the day of inclusion;
Weight ≥ 12 kg;
No personal history of T1DM;
Affiliation with a health insurance scheme or entitled person (excluding AME);
Written consent from parental guardians;
Ability to understand and read French.

Exclusion Criteria:

Newly diagnosed T1DM group:

Use of oral or intravenous corticosteriods in the month prior to blood sampling
Contraindication to the use of anaesthetic cream for blood sampling.

Control group :

History of autoimmune or inflammatory disease
Use of oral or intravenous corticosteriods in the month prior to blood sampling
Contraindication to the use of anaesthetic cream for blood sampling

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Newly diagnosed T1DM group children aged 2 to under 18 on the day of inclusion, with a recent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes	Biological: Frequency of Treg and Teffs additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: Phenotype of Treg and Teffs additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: RNA seq analysis additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: HLA typing additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: beta-cell autoantibody dosage additionnal blood sampling at inclusion
Other: Control group children aged 2 to under 18 on the day of inclusion, with no history of type 1 diabetes	Biological: Frequency of Treg and Teffs additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: Phenotype of Treg and Teffs additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: RNA seq analysis additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: HLA typing additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: beta-cell autoantibody dosage additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) dosage additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: blood glucose dosage additionnal blood sampling at inclusion Biological: C-peptide dosage additionnal blood sampling at inclusion

Participant Group / Arm