Differentiation, expansion, and homeostasis of autoreactive T cells in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Autoreactive T cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and are considered a major target of immunomodulatory strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the disease onset. However, the T-cell response against insulin-producing beta cells is still poorly understood. T cells potentially able to recognize and destroy beta cells are present in most individuals, but only in a few do they differentiate into pathogenic effectors. Recent and novel findings in T-cell biology on the dynamics of T-cell activation and memory maintenance are shedding new light on the general mechanisms of the T-cell response. In this article, we discuss how new discoveries about T-cell differentiation, expansion, and homeostasis could help to clarify mechanisms of autoimmunity that lead to T1DM.
Monti
Paolo
P
Laboratory for Pre-clinical Approaches to Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Paolo.monti@crt-dresden.de
Heninger
Anne-Kristin
AK
Bonifacio
Ezio
E