THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ENTEROVIRUSES AND TYPE 1 DIABETES

Abstract

The hypothesis that under some circumstances enteroviral infections can lead to type 1 diabetes (T1D) was proposed several decades ago, based initially on evidence from animal studies and sero-epidemiology. The mechanisms leading to the disease involve complex interactions between the virus, host target tissue (pancreas) and the immune system. The following article is intended as a review of several recent information of the topic based on human studies that try to establish a connection between a viral infection and Type 1 diabetes. Through understanding better this association and it’s implications in the onset of T1D potential new ways of prevention and treatment may emerge.