The Triggers of Type 1 Diabetes - New Study

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 05 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Journal of Clinical Investigation
Autoimmune response in blood sugar disease

According to a study by researchers at King's College, London (UK), we could be on to a better understanding of the autoimmune response in people with Diabetes I (type one diabetes).

Scientists have been trying, for over a quarter of a century, to find an event or environmental agent that triggers immune-mediated destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells (this results in type 1 diabetes).

Previous studies, which have been hampered by inadequate technology and the rarity of the necessary cells, suggested that T-cells that react to islet beta cells may contribute to this autoimmune response and could also be a factor in self-tolerance in healthy people.

This new study (at King's College) suggests a mechanism for the specificity of this immune regulation.

The researchers say it may explain why the same peptides present on pancreatic b cells that activate T-cells in people with type 1 diabetes and healthy people cause an autoimmune response in people with diabetes.

To read the full article go to:
http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/113/3/451
(Journal of Clinical Investigation)

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