GAD-alum (Diamyd) - a new concept for preservation of residual insulin secretion

• Importance of the field: Type 1 diabetes is a common and very serious disease. There has been very active research going on for a long time aiming at preservation of the residual insulin secretion by some kind of intervention to stop the destructive autoimmune process. This review covers a new type of immune intervention using auto-antigen treatment. Areas covered in this review: Immune interventions in type 1 diabetes have been tried during the last 30 years, this review mentions some of them, but the main topic is the use of the auto-antigen glutamic acid decarboxylase ( GAD) to create tolerance to stop the autoimmune process. The clinical trials have been performed during the last 15 years and are all covered. What the reader will gain: This review will give the reader a picture of the research behind treatment with GAD as an immune intervention in type 1 diabetes. Take home message: The key finding so far is that treatment with Diamyd (R) has not only been shown to preserve residual beta cell function in type 1 diabetes, but this treatment may be the proof in humans of a new concept of treating and perhaps even preventing autoimmune diseases.

Nyckelord

Diamyd

GAD

GADA

immune intervention

prevention

type 1 diabetes

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)