Beyond bystanders: How β cell stress shapes the autoimmune response in T1D
Abstract
For many years, research focused on the immune system's role in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, mounting evidence suggests a critical involvement of intrinsic pancreatic β cell defects, particularly impaired cellular stress responses, in disease pathology. This shift in understanding is supported by the limited effectiveness of immune-targeting therapies, which have so far managed to delay, rather than prevent or cure, T1D. Here, we discuss why the immune system specifically targets β cells, how stress pathways modify the interaction between β cells and immune cells, β cell resilience, and challenges and opportunities in targeting β cell stress in T1D.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Diabetes and associated disorders
Pancreatic function and diabetes
T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Science Translational Medicine
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 842
- Pages
- eaed3762–eaed3762
- Publication date
- 25 March 2026
- Language
- EN