Transgenic mouse models of type I diabetes.
Transgenic mouse technology has gained recognition as an important tool for examining many fundamental biological questions in vivo. Recently, transgenic mouse techniques have been applied to the study of type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. These studies have been particularly informative in elucidating 1) mechanisms whereby immune tolerance is maintained to antigens on rare specialized cells such as the pancreatic beta-cell, 2) disease susceptibility and resistance genes, and 3) potentially important immune effector mechanisms. In this article, we discuss these studies, their impact on understanding of the pathogenesis of type I diabetes, and the potential of the transgenic mouse approach for future research.
Lipes
M A
MA
Immunology Section, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA 02215.
Eisenbarth
G S
GS
D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies