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Beta cell destruction in the development of autoimmune diabetes in the non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mouse
Author(s) -
Thomas Helen E.,
Kay Thomas W. H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/1520-7560(200007/08)16:4<251::aid-dmrr126>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - nod mice , perforin , nod , beta cell , programmed cell death , cd8 , beta (programming language) , tumor necrosis factor alpha , apoptosis , immunology , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cancer research , diabetes mellitus , immune system , endocrinology , islet , biochemistry , programming language , computer science
In the non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of Type 1 (insulin‐dependent) diabetes, evidence suggests that pancreatic beta cells are destroyed in part by apoptotic mechanisms. The precise mechanisms of beta cell destruction leading to diabetes remain unclear. The NOD mouse has been studied to gain insight into the cellular and molecular mediators of beta cell death, which are discussed in this review. Perforin, secreted by CD8 + T cells, remains one of the only molecules confirmed to be implicated in beta cell death in the NOD mouse. There are many other molecules, including Fas ligand and cytokines such as interferon‐γ, interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor‐α, which may lead to beta cell destruction either directly or indirectly via regulation of toxic molecules such as nitric oxide. As beta cell death can occur in the absence of perforin, these other factors, in addition to other as yet unidentified factors, may be important in the development of diabetes. Effective protection of NOD mice from beta cell destruction may therefore require inhibition of multiple effector mechanisms. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.