Immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes

Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome is calling for submissions to our collection on Immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and characterize by the cell death of islet β-cells by patient’s immune system. Once these cells are destroyed, no regeneration occurs, leading to high blood glucose level. Although discovery of insulin and its administration remained as only possible therapy, risk of long-term effects on eye and kidney along with chances of mortality remains concerning. One possible cure is the immunotherapy after the early screening and detection of type 1 diabetes before the onset of the disease, when a reasonable amount of the cells is still actively producing insulin. Immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes includes islet cell transplantation and subsequent administration of immune modulating drugs, antigen specific therapies and thus reduction of body’s immune response or enhancing tolerance to β-cell antigens, in most of the cases generating concerning side effects.  Unfortunately, most data regarding immunotherapy are at the experimental level and only pre-clinical trial results are available. More research is needed to conclude its safety and efficacy in larger populations. However, in future, immunotherapy remains as the hope for treating Type 1 diabetes without insulin administration.

This collection thus encourages manuscript (original articles, reviews, clinical interventions, case study) addressing recent advances in the overall theme of immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes and the respective outcomes.