In children affected by type 1 diabetes, the pancreatic beta cells, in charge of insulin production would be destroyed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Autoimmunity. This discovery would improve treatments for the disease.
the type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which immune effectors work against the body and gradually destroy the beta cells in the pancreas, which are physiologically responsible for producing insulin.
CD8 T lymphocytes responsible for childhood diabetes
Inserm researchers have conducted biological studies on children and adults diagnosed with diabetes. The findings showed that the signature of CD8 + CD45RA- T lymphocytes was specific to the pediatric population.
“Cytotoxic CD8 + T lymphocytes play a key role in the processes implicated in the destruction of beta cells. In our study, we observed that the CD8 subtype is particularly common in the early stages of the disease; it even remains so. when the conventional treatment of diabetes by insulin therapy helps normalize blood sugar. This means that the high level of these cells is probably linked to the autoimmune mechanism, and not to other biological influences, such as for example the metabolic disturbances associated with diabetes “explains Peter van Endert.
“This is undoubtedly proof that the autoimmune mechanism is more aggressive in children than in adults,” recalls Peter van Endert. These results suggest the usefulness of personalized immunotherapy according to the target patient population. ” .
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