Unique features in the presentation of insulin epitopes in autoimmune diabetes: an update.

Unique features in the presentation of insulin epitopes in autoimmune diabetes: an update. Curr Opin Immunol. 2017 Apr 26;46:30-37 Authors: Wan X, Unanue ER Abstract Although an autoimmune disease involves diverse self-antigens, the initiation stage may require recognition of a limited number. This concept is verified in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of autoimmune diabetes, in which strong evidence points to insulin as the prime antigen. The NOD mouse bears the I-A(g7) class II-MHC molecules (MHCII) that share common biochemical features and peptidome selection with the human diabetes-susceptible HLA-DQ8. Furthermore, both NOD mice and patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) display an early appearance of insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) and subsequent insulin-reactive T cell infiltration into the islets. Therefore, a better understanding of insulin presentation is crucial for assessing disease pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize recent advances in insulin presentation events that underlie the essential role of this autoantigen in driving autoimmune diabetes. PMID: 28456018 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Immunol Source Type: research