AUTHOR=Weir Gordon C. , Bonner-Weir Susan 

TITLE=Glucose Driven Changes in Beta Cell Identity Are Important for Function and Possibly Autoimmune Vulnerability during the Progression of Type 1 Diabetes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2017.00002

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2017.00002

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>This commentary explores the hypothesis that when autoimmunity leads to a fall of beta cell mass during the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D), rising glucose levels cause major changes in beta cell identity. This then leads to profound changes in secretory function and less well-understood changes in beta cell susceptibility to autoimmune destruction, which may influence of rate of progression of beta cell killing.</p>