Type 1 diabetes: the facts fit a deficient inhibitory signal given by MHC class II.
This paper presents a hypothesis regarding the aetiology of Type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes, which suggests that autoimmunity is normally prevented by an inhibitory or negative signal delivered by MHC molecules, and that in Type 1 diabetes it is the inability of beta cells to deliver sufficient negative signal from MHC Class II that drives the underlying autoimmune process. Based on a broad survey of the diabetes literature, a list of clinical, pathological, experimental and epidemiological 'facts' about Type 1 diabetes is presented which are considered to be widely accepted as proven. The new theory is then compared to other recent theories on the aetiology of diabetes with regard to its ability to explain these accepted 'facts'.
The Nuffield Department of Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. derek.gray@nds.ox.ac.uk
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D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II