Genetics of type 1 diabetes: present and future

What is it about?

Over the past decades, the majority of genetic research focused on common diseases, and remarkable results were obtained for exploring the genetic background of type 1 diabetes. The classic linkage analyses and the modern genome-wide association studies demonstrated that the genetic background is the primary risk factor for beta-cell autoimmunity while the progression to clinical onset could be triggered by the genetic factors, epigenetic modifications of gene expression and environmental factors together. The new system biology concept can help to understand the mechanisms underlying the immune-mediated beta-cell destruction by generating networks based on data from whole genome scans, fine mapping and gene expression studies to develop targeted prevention and therapeutic strategies.

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Why is it important?

In this paper, we discuss the present understanding of genetic factors which could initiate beta-cell autoimmunity (i.e. define the aetiology) and the genetic and epigenetic factors which might contribute to the progression to clinical disease in individuals with autoantibodies (i.e. define the pathogenesis).