Type 1 Diabetes and Type 1 Interferonopathies: Localization of a Type 1 Common Thread of Virus Infection in the Pancreas
Virginie S.E. Jean-Baptiste,
Chang-Qing Xia,
Michael J. Clare-Salzler,
Marc S. Horwitz
Affiliations
Virginie S.E. Jean-Baptiste
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infection, Inflammation, and Immunity (I3) Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
Chang-Qing Xia
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
Michael J. Clare-Salzler
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Marc S. Horwitz
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infection, Inflammation, and Immunity (I3) Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Increasing incidence of T1D worldwide is prompting researchers to adopt different approaches to explain the biology of T1D, beyond the presence and activity of autoreactive lymphocytes. In this review, we propose inflammatory pathways as triggers for T1D. Within the scope of those inflammatory pathways and in understanding the pathogenesis of disease, we suggest that viruses, in particular Coxsackieviruses, act by causing a type 1 interferonopathy within the pancreas and the microenvironment of the islet. As such, this connection and common thread represents an exciting platform for the development of new diagnostic, treatment and/or prevention options.
