title: Evidence of association between type 1 diabetes and exposure to enterovirus in Cuban children and adolescents.
abstract: A possible etiologic role of enteroviruses for type 1 diabetes has been researched for 40 years, but evidence to date is inconclusive. This article summarizes new evidence from Cuban research supporting a role for enteroviruses, both in preclinical stages of autoimmune reactions against pancreatic β cells and at clinical onset, in a population with low type 1 diabetes incidence. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are also discussed, such as acute cytolytic damage and molecular mimicry. Although direct causal effects of enteroviruses in type 1 diabetes are difficult to demonstrate, arguments supporting their role in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis should not be ignored; and confirmation could contribute to development of more effective preventive strategies.
authors: Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK), Havana, Cuba.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Sarmiento
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Cubas-Dueñas
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Cabrera-Rode
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002648:Child; D003462:Cuba; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies; C024211:islet cell antibody