Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from a sustained immune-mediated attack on insulin producing ß cells culminating in insulin deficiency and the need for exogenous insulin. The pathological mechanisms resulting in T1D are a consequence of a breakdown in self-tolerance; the cascade of events leading to these are complex and multifactorial, ensuing in autoreactive T cells which drive the pathogenic inflammatory response. To address this, several immunomodulation strategies have been employed designed to re-programme the immune system with the aim of halting or preventing disease.
Immunotherapy in T1D so far has included both antigen specific and non-antigen specific approaches and has been conducted in patients as well as at risk subjects and now expanding into the use of combination therapy. It is important to assess the impact of the therapeutic agent on the immune system as this would provide an insight into mechanism of action. Currently most intervention trials include close immuno-monitoring of patients throughout the study.
Furthermore, it is also becoming more apparent that there is a need to carefully assess patients from baseline to completion of the interventional study as those who respond are likely to present with specific characteristics, this is where the choice of immune-monitoring tools and bio-marker selection is critical. Responders may have a unique “immune signature” that will not only give an insight into mechanisms of action of the immunomodulatory agents but also may have a role in predicting potential responders in future studies. Current immune-monitoring techniques include advanced techniques examining cell phenotypes at the single cell level giving a detailed snapshot which can be extensively probed.
We want to determine if advanced immune-monitoring strategies provide an insight into identifying potential responders amongst patients undergoing immunotherapy in T1D. This Research Topic welcomes submission of Reviews, Mini Reviews, Perspective, Original Research Articles and General Commentaries and we want to explore (but are not limited to) the following topics:
· Discuss current immunotherapy trials in T1D.
· Examine efficacies of various immune-therapeutics and discuss proposed mechanisms of action of the described immunotherapeutic.
· Discuss immune-monitoring tools such as repertoire analysis, next generation technologies, functional assays, and other advanced techniques.
· Determine if immune-monitoring strategies identify responders and whether these can be used for future patient stratification.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from a sustained immune-mediated attack on insulin producing ß cells culminating in insulin deficiency and the need for exogenous insulin. The pathological mechanisms resulting in T1D are a consequence of a breakdown in self-tolerance; the cascade of events leading to these are complex and multifactorial, ensuing in autoreactive T cells which drive the pathogenic inflammatory response. To address this, several immunomodulation strategies have been employed designed to re-programme the immune system with the aim of halting or preventing disease.
Immunotherapy in T1D so far has included both antigen specific and non-antigen specific approaches and has been conducted in patients as well as at risk subjects and now expanding into the use of combination therapy. It is important to assess the impact of the therapeutic agent on the immune system as this would provide an insight into mechanism of action. Currently most intervention trials include close immuno-monitoring of patients throughout the study.
Furthermore, it is also becoming more apparent that there is a need to carefully assess patients from baseline to completion of the interventional study as those who respond are likely to present with specific characteristics, this is where the choice of immune-monitoring tools and bio-marker selection is critical. Responders may have a unique “immune signature” that will not only give an insight into mechanisms of action of the immunomodulatory agents but also may have a role in predicting potential responders in future studies. Current immune-monitoring techniques include advanced techniques examining cell phenotypes at the single cell level giving a detailed snapshot which can be extensively probed.
We want to determine if advanced immune-monitoring strategies provide an insight into identifying potential responders amongst patients undergoing immunotherapy in T1D. This Research Topic welcomes submission of Reviews, Mini Reviews, Perspective, Original Research Articles and General Commentaries and we want to explore (but are not limited to) the following topics:
· Discuss current immunotherapy trials in T1D.
· Examine efficacies of various immune-therapeutics and discuss proposed mechanisms of action of the described immunotherapeutic.
· Discuss immune-monitoring tools such as repertoire analysis, next generation technologies, functional assays, and other advanced techniques.
· Determine if immune-monitoring strategies identify responders and whether these can be used for future patient stratification.