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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Transplantation of Pancreatic Islets Into the Kidney Capsule of Diabetic Mice
Published on: October 31, 2007
Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens
Emma E Hamilton-Williams1, Anne-Sophie Bergot1, Peta L S Reeves1
1The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Abstract:
Reestablishment of immune tolerance to the insulin-producing beta cells is the desired goal for type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment and prevention. Immune tolerance to multiple islet antigens is defective in individuals with T1D, but the mechanisms involved are multifaceted and may involve loss of thymic and peripheral tolerance. In this review we discuss our current understanding of the varied mechanisms by which peripheral tolerance to islet antigens is maintained in healthy individuals where genetic protection from T1D is present and how this fails in those with genetic susceptibility to disease. Novel findings in regards to expression of neo-islet antigens, non-classical regulatory cell subsets and the impact of specific genetic variants on tolerance induction are discussed.
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