Engagement: Do germs cause type 1 diabetes?
Germs could play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes by triggering the body’s immune system to destroy the cells that produce insulin. Scientists have previously shown that killer T-cells, a type of white blood cell that normally protects us from germs, play a major part in type 1 diabetes by destroying insulin producing cells, known as beta cells. Now, using Diamond Light Source, the UK’s synchrotron science facility to shine intense super powerful X-rays into samples, we found the same killer T-cells that cause type 1 diabetes are strongly activated by some bacteria. We hope this research will lead to new ways to diagnose, prevent or even halt the type 1 diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is prevalent in children and young adults, and is not connected with diet. There is little understanding of what triggers type 1 diabetes and currently no cure with patients requiring life-long treatment. In previous studies we isolated a killer T-cell from a patient with ty...