Type-I Diabetes

Seth Cressey
Steven Moore
Nov 2012

Background
Information
Diabetes mellitus type-1
-Also called Insulin
dependent diabetes or
Juvenile diabetes.
-Autoimmune destruction of
insulin-producing (beta cells)
of the pancreas
-Results in total insulin
deficiency.
-Affects 1 in 300 children and more adults. 4

Diabetes: not just an American problem...

The Pancreas
Beta Cells: secrete
insulin.

Alpha Cells: secrete

glucagon

Autoimmunity occurs in islet of Langerhans

against the beta cells...

What is Insulin? What does it do?

-Peptide Hormone,
regulates blood
sugar.
-Causes body cells to
take up glucose
from the blood.
-Insulin receptors
found on:
Liver cells
Skeletal muscles
Adipose tissue

Symptoms
Symptoms include:
-Hyperglycemia
-Polyuria: Excessive urine
-Polydipsia: Excessive Thirst
-Lipidemia
-Polyphagia :Excessive Hunger
-Glycosuria: Sugar in the urine 4
-Lipidemia: Lack of insulin starves body of glucose,

body begins metabolizing fatty acids as energy

source.4
- Ketoacidoses: Ketones build up in blood, dropping Ph
- Ketouria: Ketones in urine
- Macular degeneration

Risk Factors
Mostly Genetic: alleles of HLA-DQB1, a MHC-II

-DQB1*0201
-DQB1*0302
-Both DQB1*0201 and DQB1*0302 = greatest relative risk.

Risk Factors cont

Environmental Factors:
-Diagnosed rates between subjects with high-risk HLA
genotypes (decreased) and low-risk or even protective
1
HLA genotypes (increased).
1
-Twin studies
-Cold Temperatures 1
-Diet, stress, etc.

new studies are pointing to the

importance of the environment...

Pathophysiology:
Triggers:
Overview
-Poorly understood, plenty of theories.
-Molecular mimicry
-Injury to islets
-Random failure of tolerance
Cell mediated response:
-Type 1 diabetes is caused by a T cellmediated autoimmune
destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.5

KAI W. WUCHERPFENNIG1 AND GEORGE S. EISENBARTH.:Type 1

Diabetes

Pathophysiology: Triggers
Molecular mimicry: similar epitopes between pathogen and host.
HGAD65: auto antigen
Coxsackie & hCMV:
Viral peptides
3

Image from ROEP et al.: MOLECULAR MIMICRY IN TYPE 1 DIABETES

-Viruses can produce proteins similar to those of the host.

-Immune cells present viral protein homologous to self protein.
Failure of tolerance and autoimmunity.
Injury to Islet cells: macrophages provoke insulitis by release of
interleukin.
-Can lead to presentation of cryptic antigens.... 3

Cell-mediated Response
Th cells secrete

Interferongamma:

Activates
macrophages and
granulocytes:
Induce apoptosis
of beta cells

APCs
phagocytize
apoptotic
bodies

Activation of
further Tc and Th
cells

Cryptic Antigens: epitopes not

presented for recognition by T
cells unless they are produced in
unusually large concentrations or
are freed from their configuration
in body.

Presentation of cryptic
antigens from within Beta
cells on MHC

Cycle is self
perpetuating

Diagnosi
-Fasting plasma glucose levels.
s

-Detection of antibodies against islet antigens (insulin, beta cells, etc.) in the
serum.
Detects autoimmunity before diabetes is clinical.

-Hemoglobin A1c
(glycolated hemogolobin)
test.

Treatment
Type 1 diabetes is fatal if not
treated with external insulin.
Insulin:
-fast acting and slow acting
Delivery:
-subcutaneous injection
-insulin pump

A Future Cure?
Type-1 Diabetes is currently non-preventable but
Drugs?
Diet?
Further

Mostly in experimental stages.

research is required.

Pancreas transplantation?
Some success in mice

Islet cell transplantation?

Study Questions!
1) What cells are responsible for insulin secretion:
a) Alpha cells, b) Beta cells, c) Gamma Cells,
d) Islet of Langerhans
2) Which of the following statements is false.
a) Type 1 diabetes is caused by a T cellmediated autoimmune
destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.
b) Having one or both copies of a certain MHC-II allele leads to
greater relative risk in developing type-1 diabetes.
c) It is believed that molecular mimicry between viral pathogens and
beta cell protein explains the loss of tolerance in type 1 diabetes.
d) Eosinophils play an important role in mediating the humoral
response of type-1 diabetes by use of IgE Fc receptors.

Study Questions!
3) Which of the following is true about the immune
response of Type 1 diabetes:
a)Type 1 diabetes is caused by a T cellmediated autoimmune
destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.
b) Primarily chronic phagocytosis by cells of the innate immune
system always begins the destruction of insulin producing cells.
c) IgA penetrates the pancreases and mediate complement on beta
cells.
d) In type 1 diabetes insulin begins to directly attack the pancreas
resulting in beta cell destruction.

Study Questions!
4) Which genetic factor results in the greatest relative
risk in developing type 1 diabetes?
a) Having one or both copies of a certain MHC-II allele.
b) Mutant forms of CD8.
c) Auto reactive IgM associated with the BCR complex,
d) Non antigen specific coupling of MHC TCR complex

Study Questions!
5) Molecular mimicry is an important trigger in the
onset of Type-1 Diabetes. Describe how molecular
mimicry can lead to autoimmune disorders.

References.
1) Morran MP, Omenn GS, and Pietropaolo M. 2008.Immunology and Genetics of
Type 1 Diabetes. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. 75: 314-327.
2) Pear-Yafe M, Kaminitz A, Yolcu E, Yanic I, Stein J, and Askenasy N. 2007.
Pancreatic Islets Under Attack: Cellular and Molecular Effectors.
Current Pharmaceutical Design.13: 749-760.
3) Roep BO, Hiemstra HS, Schloot NC, De Vries RRP, Chaudhuri A, Behan PO, and
Drijfhout JW. 2002. Molecular Mimicry in Type 1 Diabetes. Annals of New
York Academy of Sciences. 958:163-165.
4) Tisch R, and McDevitt H. 1996. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Cell. 85:
291-297.
5) Wucherpenning KW, AND Eisenbarth G. 2001. Type 1 diabetes. Nature
Publishing Group. News & Views: 1-2.
(http://www.nature.com/immuno/index.html)