Viruses in type 1 diabetes: brief review

ILAR J. 2004;45(3):343-8. doi: 10.1093/ilar.45.3.343.

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes results from the progressive destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Although the etiology of type 1 diabetes is believed to have a major genetic component, studies on the risk of developing type 1 diabetes suggest that environmental factors, such as viruses, may be important etiological determinants. Among the viruses, the most clear and unequivocal evidence that a virus induces type 1 diabetes in animals comes from studies on the D variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC-D) virus in mice and Kilham rat virus (KRV) in rats. A high titer of EMC-D viral infection results in the development of diabetes within 3 days, primarily due to the rapid destruction of beta cells by viral replication within the cells. A low titer of EMC-D viral infection results in the recruitment of macrophages to the islets. Soluble mediators produced by the activated macrophages such as interleukin-1Beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nitric oxide play a critical role in the destruction of residual beta cells. KRV causes autoimmune type 1 diabetes in diabetes resistant-BioBreeding rats by breakdown of immune balance, including the preferential activation of effector T cells, such as Th1-like CD45RC+CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, and down-regulation of Th2-like CD45RC-CD4+ and CD4+CD25+ T cells, rather than by direct infection of pancreatic beta cells.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / virology*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Encephalomyocarditis virus / pathogenicity*
  • Mice
  • Parvovirus / pathogenicity*
  • Rats
  • Virus Diseases / complications*
  • Virus Diseases / pathology