MOUNT SINAI JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 75:314–327, 2008 314 Immunology and Genetics of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most well-characterized autoimmune diseases. Type 1 diabetes compro-mises an individual’s insulin production through the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Although much is understood about the mechanisms of this disease, multiple potential contributing factors are thought to play distinct parts in triggering type 1 diabetes. The immunological diagnosis of type 1 diabetes relies primarily on the detection of autoan-tibodies against islet antigens in the serum of type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. Genetic analyses of type 1 diabetes have linked human leukocyte antigen, specifically class II alleles, to susceptibility to dis-ease onset. Environmental catalysts include various possible factors, such as viral infections, although the evidence linking infections with type 1 diabetes remains inconclusive. Imbalances within the immune system’s system of checks and balances may pro-mote immune activation, while undermining immune regulation. A lack of proper regulation and overac-tive pathogenic responses provide a framework for the development of autoimmune abnormalities. Type 1 diabetes is a predictable and potentially treat-able disease that still requires much research to fully understand and pinpoint the exact triggering events leading to autoimmune activation. In silico research can aid the comprehension of the etiol-ogy of complex disease pathways, including Type I diabetes, in order to and help predict the outcome Address Correspondence to