Viral Trigger for Type 1 Diabetes

Intestinal virome changes precede autoimmunity in type I diabetes-susceptible children

“…Studies in mice clearly document that virus infection can trigger damage to the islets (13)(14)(15)(16). Furthermore, intestinal eukaryotic viruses have been implicated in triggering human T1D, based mostly on seroepidemiologic studies of responses to one or a few candidate viruses (17)(18)(19). However, in another study, no changes in the virome were detected for 3-9 mo before the development of autoimmunity (20).…”

Enterovirus infections in young infants: Are children still protected by maternal antibodies?

“…4 Enterovirus infection(s) might be involved in the development of type 1 diabetes, 3,[5][6][7] even though some studies are contradicting. [8][9][10] Our previous epidemiological investigations clearly speak about the existence of inverse association between the prevalence of enterovirus infections and frequency of type 1 diabetes in background population. 11,12 Based on these findings we have launched "polio hypothesis" according to which the increase in type 1 diabetes incidence in some countries is due to a change in the epidemiology of enterovirus infections.…”

Beta cells under attack: toward a better understanding of type 1 diabetes immunopathology

“…Righteously so, since numerous studies have found an increased frequency of enteroviral infection around T1D onset and animal data clearly indicate that these viruses can both prevent or accelerate disease [34]. A substantial body of evidence has come from the Finnish population, which harbors the world's highest number of T1D patients.…”