title: Genes mediating environment interactions in type 1 diabetes.
abstract: The relative risk of type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes mellitus for a sibling of an affected patient is fifteen times that of the general population, indicating a strong genetic contribution to the disease. Yet, the incidence of diabetes in most Western communities has doubled every fifteen years since the Second World War - a rate of increase that can only possibly be explained by a major etiological effect of environment. Here, the authors provide a selective review of risk factors identified to date. Recent reports of linkage of type 1 diabetes to genes encoding pathogen pattern recognition molecules, such as toll-like receptors, are discussed, providing a testable hypothesis regarding a mechanism by which genetic and environmental influences on disease progress are integrated.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Genomics Centre, Molecular Sciences Building 21, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biros
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Baxter