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Type I diabetes as a chronic autoimmune disease
G S Eisenbarth1, R C Nayak, S L Rabinowe
1Joslin Diabetes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
The Journal of Diabetic Complications
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease, impacting clinical care and research. Predicting disease risk aids in donor screening and developing immunotherapy for prevention and understanding complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Type I diabetes is increasingly recognized as a chronic autoimmune disease.
- This understanding is influencing clinical practices and research into diabetes causes and prevention.
- Autoimmune processes may also contribute to secondary complications of diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the implications of Type I diabetes being an autoimmune disease.
- To highlight advancements in predicting diabetes risk and potential preventative strategies.
- To investigate the role of autoimmune factors in secondary diabetic complications.
Main Methods:
- Screening renal donor candidates for cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies.
- Evaluating first-phase insulin secretion via intravenous glucose tolerance testing.
- Identifying islet cell antigens and their expression in other tissues using monoclonal antibodies.
Main Results:
- Laboratory evaluations can now identify high-risk individuals for Type I diabetes.
- Potential for developing effective immunotherapy to prevent Type I diabetes.
- Renewed interest in immunologic factors contributing to secondary complications due to shared antigens.
Conclusions:
- The autoimmune nature of Type I diabetes is transforming clinical care and research.
- Predictive diagnostics and immunotherapy offer promising avenues for prevention.
- Understanding shared antigens may elucidate mechanisms of secondary diabetic complications.