Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Efficient Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells to NKX6-1+ Pancreatic Progenitors
Published on: March 7, 2017
The activating receptor NKp46 is essential for the development of type 1 diabetes
Chamutal Gur1, Angel Porgador, Moran Elboim
1The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract:
The mechanism of action of natural killer (NK) cells in type 1 diabetes is still unknown. Here we show that the activating receptor NKp46 recognizes mouse and human ligands on pancreatic beta cells. NK cells appeared in the pancreas when insulitis progressed to type 1 diabetes, and NKp46 engagement by beta cells led to degranulation of NK cells. NKp46-deficient mice had less development of type 1 diabetes induced by injection of a low dose of streptozotocin. Injection of soluble NKp46 proteins into nonobese diabetic mice during the early phase of insulitis and the prediabetic stage prevented the development of type 1 diabetes. Our findings demonstrate that NKp46 is essential for the development of type 1 diabetes and highlight potential new therapeutic modalities for this disease.
Related Concept Videos
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Enzyme-linked Receptors
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...

