Enterovirus infections and type 1 diabetes mellitus: is there any relationship?

Tavares RG (1, 2), Trevisol RB (3), Comerlato J (3), Dalzochio T (3), Feksa LR (2), Spilki FR (2), Berlese DB (2)

(1) Department of Diagnostic Methods, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil; (2) Health Sciences Institute, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil; (3) Undergraduate Program in Biomedicine, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.

Abstract: Several health organizations have classified diabetes mellitus, a metabolic syndrome, as the epidemic of the century, since it affects millions of people worldwide and is one of the top ten causes of death. Type 1 diabetes is considered to be an autoimmune disease, in which autoaggressive T cells infiltrate the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, leading to the destruction of insulin producing beta cells. The risk of the disease is modulated by genetic factors, mainly genes coding for human leukocyte antigens (HLA). However, the incidence of this disease has increased significantly during the recent decades, which cannot be explained only by genetic factors. Environmental perturbations have also been associated to the development of diabetes. Among these factors, viral triggers have been implicated; particularly enteroviruses, which have been associated to the induction of the disease. Supporting the hypothesis, numerous lines of evidence coming from mouse models and patients with this type of diabetes have shown the association. The present review aims to provide some understanding of how type 1 diabetes occurs and the possible role of enterovirus in this pathology.

Key words: diabetes mellitus type I, enterovirus, autoimmune disease.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: June 14, 2011.

Accepted: November 1, 2011.

Abstract published online: November 3, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

Fernando R. Spilki is a research fellow of The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Rejane Giacomelli Tavares, Avenida Grécia, 1100/1805. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Phone: + 55 51 99710259. Email: tavares.rejane@gmail.com.