Abstract

SARMIENTO, Luis et al. Association between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes: new findings from Cuban studies. Biotecnol Apl [online]. 2009, vol.26, n.4, pp.349-351. ISSN 1027-2852.

Enteroviruses have been examined for their possible role in the etiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) for nearly 40 years; however, the evidence remains inconclusive so far. This article provides new findings from Cuban studies suggesting the involvement of enteroviruses, either with the clinical T1DM onset or the pre-clinical stages of the β- cell autoimmunity in populations with low incidence of diabetes and high enteroviral circulation. Potential mechanisms of pathogenesis such as direct β- cell lysis and molecular mimicry are also discussed.

Keywords : type 1 diabetes mellitus; autoimmunity; autoantibodies; enterovirus.

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