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IFN‐α Can Both Protect against and Promote the Development of Type 1 Diabetes
Author(s) -
Wong F. Susan,
Wen Li
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1447.031
Subject(s) - diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , interferon , type 1 diabetes , immunology , interferon type i , medicine , autoimmunity , etiology , animal model , endocrinology , immune system
Viral infection has been hypothesized to be one of the environmental triggers for the development of type 1 diabetes. Infection induces a large amount of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) produced by dendritic cells and other cells. To test the role of IFN‐α in the development of diabetes, we have used three different experimental approaches in both diabetes‐prone and ‐resistant animal models for type 1 diabetes. Our results suggested that a viral mimic or IFN‐α can either suppress or promote the development of autoimmune diabetes, depending on the model system. It is likely that IFN‐α plays a complex role in the etiology of type 1 diabetes.