Is innervation an early target in autoimmune diabetes?
In the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a spontaneous model of type 1 diabetes (T1D), recent evidence suggests that Schwann cells (Scs) and neurons surrounding insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans are destroyed before beta cells. During normal perinatal development, macrophages (MPhi) are involved in phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons. Pertinently, MPhi are already present at birth in NOD pancreata. Their possible abnormal control of nerve phagocytosis, together with transient beta-cell hyperactivity and lymphocyte anomalies, might conjointly participate in T1D pathogenesis.
Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental, Obligado 2490, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Flavia
F
Saravia
Françoise
F
Homo-Delarche
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009420:Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010587:Phagocytosis