CD8A and diabetes mellitus: Previous studies on diabetes-resistant BB (BBDR) and LEW.1WR1 rats provide evidence for the contribution of T cells in the development of autoimmune diabetes following KRV infection: mAbs against TCR, CD5, and CD8+ T cells protect against diabetes, whereas depletion of RT6.1+ Treg cells increases the frequency of KRV-induced diabetes (16).