Viruses as a triggering factor of type 1 diabetes and genetic markers related to the susceptibility to the virus-associated diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes results from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Genetic and environmental factors are implicated in the beta cell destruction. As environmental factors affecting the induction of type 1 diabetes, diabetogenic viruses, chemicals, toxins, and diet are likely candidates as either primary injurious agents of beta cells or triggering agents for the induction of autoimmunity. Regarding viruses as a triggering factor of type 1 diabetes, there are at least two different pathogenic mechanisms in virus-induced diabetes: cytolytic infection of beta cells, leading to their destruction, and triggering of autoimmunity, leading to the autoimmune-mediated destruction of beta cells. Since there is no correlation between the induction of antibodies to Coxsackie B viruses and the presence of islet cell autoantibodies in patients with type 1 diabetes, the induction of diabetes by Coxsackie B viruses may be due to cytolytic infection of beta cells rather than an autoimmune response. In contrast, rubella virus and cytomegalovirus (CMV) do appear to be somehow associated with autoimmune type 1 diabetes since there is a strong correlation between the presence of islet cell autoantibodies and persistent infections. Regarding genetic factors, there are distinct markers related to the susceptibility to Coxsackie B4 virus-associated type 1 diabetes and CMV-associated type 1 diabetes. Four specific DNA restriction endonuclease fragments (BamHI-DQ-beta 6.6, TaqI-DR-beta 4.3, TaqI-DR-beta 2.5 and TaqI-DR-beta 1.5 kb) are related to the susceptibility to Coxsackie B4 virus-associated type 1 diabetes while six specific DNA restriction endonuclease fragments (BamHI-DQ-alpha 12.5, -beta 3.7 and -beta 3.2 kb, TaqI-DQ-alpha 7.2, -beta 7.2 and -beta 5.4 kb) are related to the susceptibility to CMV-associated type 1 diabetes.
Yoon
J W
JW
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alb., Canada.
Ihm
S H
SH
Kim
K W
KW
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D014780:Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D005819:Genetic Markers