- Resource
- BR1DGE
- Pathophysiology
- Video
Exploring the etiology of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D)
T1D is a chronic, autoimmune disease with a complex, multifactorial etiology. Explore how genetics and environmental factors can trigger autoimmunity.
Learning Objectives
- Gain a brief overview of the etiology and pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D)
- Understand the genetic and environmental factors that play a role in the disease pathophysiology
- Understand how genetic risk scoring can be used to select individuals at an increased risk for T1D
Summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic, autoimmune disease with a complex multifactorial etiology. It is thought to be driven by genetic and environmental factors. Some genetic variants increase the risk of T1D, which can be classified as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA genes. Genetic risk scoring may be utilized to identify individuals with increased risk of T1D. Potential environmental factors that trigger autoimmunity include viral infection, early nutrition, individual microbiota, diet, body fat and increased body weight, physical inactivity, and socio-economic factors. Environmental factors in combination with genetic susceptibility may result in autoreactive T cells attacking beta cells in the pancreas. Autoreactive T cells also facilitate B cell generation of autoantibodies that target beta cells, marking them for the autoimmune process that results in their immune mediated destruction.
MAT-GLB-2405110-1.0 - 04/2025