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Differentiation, expansion, and homeostasis of autoreactive T cells in type 1 diabetes mellitus

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Abstract

Autoreactive T cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and are considered a major target of immunomodulatory strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the disease onset. However, the T-cell response against insulinproducing β cells is still poorly understood. T cells potentially able to recognize and destroy β cells are present in most individuals, but only in a few do they differentiate into pathogenic effectors. Recent and novel findings in T-cell biology on the dynamics of T-cell activation and memory maintenance are shedding new light on the general mechanisms of the T-cell response. In this article, we discuss how new discoveries about T-cell differentiation, expansion, and homeostasis could help to clarify mechanisms of autoimmunity that lead to T1DM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Pre-clinical Approaches to Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Paolo Monti

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  1. Paolo Monti
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  2. Anne-Kristin Heninger
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  3. Ezio Bonifacio
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Correspondence to Paolo Monti.

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Monti, P., Heninger, AK. & Bonifacio, E. Differentiation, expansion, and homeostasis of autoreactive T cells in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Curr Diab Rep 9, 113–118 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-009-0020-y

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