A new study published in the publication PLOS Pathogens showed that rotavirus infection is associated with the development of autoimmune (type 1) diabetes.

Scientists from the University of Melbourne (Australia) have observed accelerated development of diabetes in mice under the influence of rotavirus.

To conduct this study, they included a special mechanism of viral activation in laboratory mice with diabetes, but not obese.

The virus provoked such a strong reaction of the immune system that the immune cells began to attack not only the pathogen, but also the body’s own cells - in this case, insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells.

When rotavirus enters the spleen of mice, two types of immune cells are activated - B cells (producing antibodies) and “dendritic cells” that coordinate the immune response. Scientists have discovered that this process triggers the "

The chain reaction triggered by rotavirus with the help of dendritic cells leads to the fact that T-lymphocytes begin to recognize islet cells of the pancreas as hostile and damage them. As a result, iron loses its ability to produce enough insulin. What we call type 1 diabetes comes up.

Interferon type 1 - the main culprit?

Dendritic cells, studies show, can produce a large amount of an immune modulator - type 1 interferon (IFN1). Apparently, this interferon is involved in the process that we described above. That is, it is associated with the destruction of islet cells and the acceleration of diabetes.

“The role of type 1 interferon in accelerating the development of diabetes after rotavirus infection deserves further analysis,” said researchers who intend to conduct new work on this issue..

A few facts about type 1 diabetes:.

• Type 1 diabetes occurs at any age, but more often begins in children and young people.

• Patients with confirmed type 1 diabetes should take insulin for the rest of their lives..

• There are no screening tests that could recognize type 1 diabetes in people without symptoms.

“Understanding how viruses affect the development of type 1 diabetes is vital for developing effective prevention methods,” the researchers concluded in their article..

Demonstrating this mechanism of action of rotavirus in an animal model, scientists concluded that "

In January of this year, researchers from Denmark have already reported that low doses of anti-cancer drugs can reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in mice. The action of lysine deacitylase inhibitors was associated with a suppression of the response of the immune system to pancreatic cells.

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine achieved success last year in a small trial of a new type 1 diabetes vaccine. This vaccine, unlike most other vaccines, does not enhance the immune response, but "

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