title: T-cell autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. Several beta-cell antigens, mostly non-tissue-specific, have been implicated in the disease process. The antigens and the autoimmune T cells exist in healthy individuals, as do many of the genes required for the development of diabetes. The question, then, is why and how exposure to undefined environmental agents activates an existing autoimmune potential and directs it to damage the beta cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Birk
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens