[Immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes].

Abstract

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is the late consequence of a chronic autoimmune disease directed to the B islet cell, that begins long before the hyperglycemic state. Experimental evidence suggests a central pathogenic role for autoreactive T lymphocytes. Immunointervention studies, particularly those using cyclosporin, have shown that it is possible to stop B cell destruction, even at the late stage of overt diabetes. New therapeutic approaches will be focused on the use of specific agents such as monoclonal antibodies and immunotoxins, and on earlier interventions allowed by the detection of genetic and immunological markers of prediabetes.