Potential role of TRAIL in the management of autoimmune diabetes mellitus.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease, due to the immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, whose incidence has been steadily increasing during the last decades. Insulin replacement therapy can treat T1DM, which, however, is still associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. For this reason, great effort is being put into developing strategies that could eventually prevent and/or cure this disease. These strategies are mainly focused on blocking the immune system from attacking β-cells together with functional islet restoration either by regeneration or transplantation. Recent experimental evidences suggest that TNFrelated apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which is an immune system modulator protein, could represent an interesting candidate for the cure for T1DM and/or its complications. Here we review the evidences on the potential role of TRAIL in the management of T1DM.
Baker IDI, Heart & Diabetes Research Institute, 75 Commercial Road, VIC 3004 Melbourne, Australia. stella.bernardi@bakeridi.edu.au
Stella
S
Bernardi
Alessia
A
Norcio
Barbara
B
Toffoli
Giorgio
G
Zauli
Paola
P
Secchiero
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand