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Guts, Germs, and Meals: The Origin of Type 1 Diabetes

Current Diabetes Reports volume 12, pages 456–462 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is due, in part, to non-genetically determined factors including environmental factors. The nature of these environmental effects remains unclear but they are important to identify since they may be amenable to therapy. Recently, the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gut, as well as diet, have been implicated in T1DM pathogenesis. Since dietary changes can reshape this complex gut community, its co-evolution could have been altered by changes to our diet, agriculture, personal hygiene, and antibiotic usage, which coincide with the increased incidence of T1DM. Recent studies demonstrate an association between altered gut microbiota and T1DM in both T1DM patients and animal models of the disease. Further studies should provide new insight into those critical host-microbial interactions, potentially suggesting new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for disease prevention.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Peter Turnbaugh, Harvard, for helpful comments.

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK

    H. Beyan & R. D. Leslie

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    L. Wen

Authors
  1. H. Beyan
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  2. L. Wen
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  3. R. D. Leslie
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Correspondence to R. D. Leslie.

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Beyan, H., Wen, L. & Leslie, R.D. Guts, Germs, and Meals: The Origin of Type 1 Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep 12, 456–462 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-012-0298-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-012-0298-z

Keywords

  • Microbiome
  • Virome
  • Enterotypes
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Autoimmunity
  • Autoimmune disease
  • NOD mice
  • Toll-like receptors
  • Innate immune response
  • Guts
  • Germs
  • Meals