Regulatory T-Cells in Treatment of Type-1 Diabetes: Types and Approaches
Regulatory T-cells play important role in regulation of immune responses to self-antigens.
Alterations in frequency and function of Tregs have been reported in Type
1 Diabetes subjects.
Tregs have the potential to prevent destruction of pancreatic beta cells by targeting effector
T-cells and other immune cells causing inflammation. Therefore, strategies to increase Treg
cell numbers and function are being explored as potential immunotherapeutic approaches in treating T1D.
Alternatively, generation of colonic Tregs has also gathered attention in recent years as an approach
to limit pancreatic inflammation via gut induced tolerance. With a definitive treatment for T1D still elusive, application of Tregs as a part of combination therapy seems promising in treatment of T1D.
Type 1 Diabetes is mainly a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction
of pancreatic beta cells leading to insulin deficiency. Regardless of the predisposing factors and
environmental triggers, the main pathogenic mechanism leading to T1D is the priming
of CD8+ T-cells by the autoreactive CD4+ T-cells.
These CD8+ T-cells further recognize and destroy pancreatic β cells by releasing cytotoxic granules mainly
containing granzymes and perforin molecule. Such autoreactive CD8+ T-cells can be easily
detected from the peripheral blood of T1D subjects, as they are more differentiated and
express central memory markers.
Regulatory T-Cells in Treatment of Type-1 Diabetes: Types and Approaches.
Diabetes Res Open J. 2015; 1(3): 54-66. doi: 10.17140/DROJ-1-109
