A comprehensive guide to antibody and T-cell responses in type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets are selectively eliminated. T cells specific for beta-cell antigens are the mediators of this precise cellular destruction. However, antibodies to beta-cell proteins are also generated and may be used for predicting disease in at-risk populations. Over the past two decades, numerous beta-cell proteins and lipids have been implicated as autoantigens in patients or in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a well-studied animal model of T1D. Here, we present a review of these antigens, accompanied by their T-cell epitopes, where known, and a discussion of our current understanding of why particular self-proteins become disease-inciting antigens. Although two dozen beta-cell antigens have been identified to date, few of these have been confirmed to be recognized by pathogenic T cells early in the disease process. Further identification and characterization of initiating beta-cell antigens targeted by pathogenic T cells should be a priority for future studies.
Lieberman
S M
SM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
DiLorenzo
T P
TP
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens