Enteroviruses May Play Key Role In Triggering T1D, Study Indicates.

reports a study published online in Diabetologia “joins decades of research suggesting that enteroviruses, which include over 100 individual virus types, may play a key role in triggering type 1 diabetes [T1D].” After collecting “stool samples from more than 400 young children to look for enteroviruses,” researchers found that kids “who tested positive for multiple autoantibodies were more likely to have been infected with an enterovirus than children who had a similar genetic risk for diabetes.” Enteroviruses are attracted to “insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.” The study authors “believe the virus establishes a chronic infection in these cells, possibly leading to inflammation and self-attacking antibodies.” http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/09/health/diabetes-type-1-enterovirus-disease-study/index.html