DNCD3 splenic cells from young NOD mice (1) provided long-lasting protection against diabetes transfer in NOD/Scid immunodeficient mice, (2) proliferated and differentiated in the spleen and pancreas of NOD/Scid mice and pre-diabetic NOD mice into IL-10-secreting TR-1 like cells in a Th2-like environment, and (3) their anti-diabetogenic phenotype is CD3+(CD4−CD8−)CD28+CD69+CD25low Foxp3− iCTLA-4−TCRαβ+ with a predominant Vβ13 gene usage. The gene discussed is CD28; the disease is diabetes mellitus.