New concepts concerning autoimmune diabetes

Authors

  • Joan Verdaguer Unitat d’Immunologia, Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida i IRB Lleida
  • Marta Vives-Pi Servei d’Immunologia, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol

Keywords:

type 1 diabetes, autoimmunity, β cells, tolerance, immunotherapy.

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (DT1) is a metabolic disease caused by the selective destruction of the insulin producing β cells by the immune system. The etiology of the disease is still unknown, but several genetic, environmental and immunological factors of susceptibility have been identified. In this chapter we describe the autoimmune mechanisms involved in this disease, as well as the experimental models used for the study of DT1 and for the development of new strategies of immune intervention. Lastly, we explain the recent assays in immunotherapies aimed at preventing and curing the disease, based on breaking autoimmune response, restoring immunological tolerance and identifying new biomarkers of disease progression, as well as strategies for regenerating β cells.

Key words: type 1 diabetes, autoimmunity, β cells, tolerance, immunotherapy.

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