Altered proteins in insulin-producing cells that may trigger type 1 diabetes
Discovery and Roles of In Situ Islet Neoantigens in Human Type 1 Diabetes
This project looks for modified proteins made by insulin-producing cells that may start the immune attack in people at risk for type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238912 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm at risk for or recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, researchers will examine pancreatic islets from people like me for modified beta-cell proteins called neoantigens. They will use ultra-sensitive proteomics to map post-translational changes that can make self-proteins look foreign to the immune system. The team will test whether those modified peptides are preferentially presented by HLA types linked to diabetes and whether T cells from patients react to them. The goal is to identify early molecular triggers that start the immune attack on insulin-producing cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes or those at high risk (for example, with diabetes-related autoantibodies) who can provide blood samples or whose donated pancreatic tissue can be studied.
Not a fit: People with long-standing type 1 diabetes, those without relevant HLA risk types, or individuals unable to provide tissue or blood samples may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early immune triggers in type 1 diabetes and guide earlier diagnosis or targeted ways to prevent beta-cell loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have suggested that post-translationally modified beta-cell peptides can trigger immune responses, but direct detection and validation in human islets is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mathews, Clayton E — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Mathews, Clayton E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.