The story of type 1 diabetes begins in the pancreas, long seen as a battleground between insulin-producing beta cells and misdirected immune defenders. Scientists have been searching for ways to spot this internal warfare early enough to prevent a lifelong disease that depletes the body\u2019s source of insulin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two new papers published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine offer new clues to what happens in these beta cells before type 1 diabetes emerges. Experiments in human cells and in mouse models used biosensors and genetic analyses to illuminate this pathway and detect possible ways to halt beta-cell destruction.<\/p>\n
In the first study<\/a>, a team from the Indiana University School of Medicine explored how certain immune cells involved in inflammation, known as signaling cytokine interferon-alpha, normally trigger beta cells to produce other molecules\u00a0 that play a role in inflammation, cell proliferation, and cell death. These reactive oxygen species, ROS for short, sometimes cause collateral damage. But cells from patients with type 1 diabetes did not have ROS-producing beta cells, suggesting they lacked the cytokines that stimulate their ROS production. That dearth might be useful in flagging the decline of beta cells early on in type 1 diabetes, the study authors surmised.\u00a0<\/p>\n STAT+ Exclusive Story<\/p>\n Already have an account? Log in<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tThis article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Already have an account? Log in<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tIndividual plans<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tGroup plans<\/p>\n![\"STAT+\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stat-plus-breaker-bg.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"STAT+\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/stat\/images\/stat-plus-logo-white.svg\"){kind=logo}
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tUnlock this article \u2014 plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.<\/p>\n