The beta cell in autoimmune diabetes: many mechanisms and pathways of loss.
Death of pancreatic beta cells is the final step in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes before it becomes clinically apparent. Applying recent basic research about how cells die to the clinical problem of diabetes is a current opportunity and challenge. To date, perforin is the only factor definitely implicated in beta-cell killing in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model, although some perforin-deficient NOD mice develop diabetes. Our results suggest that other factors that cause beta-cell death remain to be identified.
Kay
T W
TW
Autoimmunity and Transplantation Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, PO Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia.
Thomas
H E
HE
Harrison
L C
LC
Allison
J
J
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*