Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the selective destruction of the pancreatic β-cells, causing inability to produce insulin. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-17, and NO can be released by CD4 and CD8+ lymphocytes as well as by classically activated macrophages (CAMϕs), which are important in the development of T1D. Helminth infections...

In nonautoimmune recipients, induction of mixed and complete chimerism with hematopoietic progenitor cells from MHC (HLA)-matched or -mismatched donors are effective approaches for induction of organ transplantation immune tolerance in both animal models and patients. But it is still unclear whether this is the case in autoimmune recipients. With the autoimmune diabetic NOD mouse model, we repo...

BACKGROUND Our group previously demonstrated that a DNA plasmid encoding the mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (DNA-HSP65) displayed prophylactic and therapeutic effect in a mice model for tuberculosis. This protection was attributed to induction of a strong cellular immunity against HSP65. As specific immunity to HSP60 family has been detected in arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabete...

Inflammatory destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets is the hallmark of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, a spontaneous autoimmune disease of non-obese diabetic mice resembling human juvenile (type I) diabetes. Histochemical analysis of diabetic pancreata revealed that mononuclear cells infiltrating the islets and causing autoimmune insulitis, as well as local is...

Oral administration of insulin to control blood glucose has become a hot area of diabetes research. The major issue is to produce enough insulin and prevent insulin degradation in the acidic environment of the stomach. We hypothesize that the natural structure of the cell wall and the endoplasmic reticulum in Ganoderma lucidum should help resist the digestion of insulin produced in these cells,...

OBJECTIVE Pancreatic beta-cells exposed to proinflammatory cytokines display alterations in gene expression resulting in defective insulin secretion and apoptosis. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs emerging as key regulators of gene expression. Here, we evaluated the contribution of microRNAs to cytokine-mediated beta-cell cytotoxicity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used global microarray p...

BACKGROUND The main mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity is an uncontrolled inflammatory response against self-antigens. Therefore, anti-inflammatory factors, such as the intake of bioactive compounds and a physically active lifestyle, may decrease or cease the development of autoimmune diseases. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by pancreatic β cell...

The islet-infiltrating and disease-causing leukocytes that are a hallmark of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus produce and respond to a set of cytokine molecules. Of these, interleukin 1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma are perhaps the most important. However, as pleiotropic molecules, they can impact the path leading to beta cell apoptosis and diabetes at mu...

Accompanying the dramatic increase in maternal obesity, the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children is also rapidly increasing. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of maternal obesity on the incidence of T1D in offspring using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a common model for TID. Four-week-old female NOD mice were fed either a control diet (10% energy from fat, CON) o...

Cannabidinoids are components of the Cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant that have been shown capable of suppressing inflammation and various aspects of cell-mediated immunity. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabidinoid has been previously shown by us to suppress cell-mediated autoimmune joint destruction in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. We now report that CBD treatment signif...