Virus infections in type 1 diabetes.
The precise etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is still unknown, but viruses have long been suggested as a potential environmental trigger for the disease. However, despite decades of research, the body of evidence supporting a relationship between viral infections and initiation or acceleration of islet autoimmunity remains largely circumstantial. The most robust association with viruses and T1D involves enterovirus species, of which some strains have the ability to induce or accelerate disease in animal models. Several hypotheses have been formulated to mechanistically explain how viruses may affect islet autoimmunity and β-cell decay. The recent observation that certain viral infections, when encountered at the right time and infectious dose, can prevent autoimmune diabetes illustrates that potential relationships may be more complex than previously thought. Here, we provide a concise summary of data obtained in mouse models and humans, and identify future avenues toward a better characterization of the association between viruses and T1D.
Center for Type 1 Diabetes Research, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Ken T
KT
Coppieters
Tobias
T
Boettler
Matthias
M
von Herrath
D000818:Animals; D024201:Bystander Effect; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D010179:Pancreas / Q000821:virology; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications*
D014765:Viral Vaccines