Deciphering the Pathogenesis of Human Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) by Interrogating T Cells from the 'Scene of the Crime'

摘要

Purpose of Review Autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells within the pancreas results in type 1 diabetes (T1D), which is not yet preventable or curable. Previously, our understanding of the beta-cell specific T cell repertoire was based on studies of autoreactive T cell responses in the peripheral blood of patients at risk for, or with, T1D; more recently, investigations have included immunohistochemical analysis of some T cell specificities in the pancreas from organ donors with T1D. Now, we are able to examine live, islet-infiltrating T cells from donors with T1D.