Gluten and increased autoimmune attacks in type 1 diabetes
Enhancement of autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes by gluten
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · NIH-11163537
This work looks at whether eating gluten makes the immune system attack insulin-making cells more in people with or at risk for type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11163537 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will feed mice different diets (including hydrolyzed casein and diets with added gluten) and compare how those diets change gut microbes and immune behavior related to diabetes. They will examine immune cells in the pancreatic islets and nearby lymph nodes using single-cell RNA sequencing and multiparameter flow cytometry. Functional tests of antigen presentation will be done in animals to see how gluten changes immune activation against beta cells. The team will separate effects that depend on the microbiota from those that act directly on the immune system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with type 1 diabetes or those at higher risk (for example, relatives with T1D or people with diabetes-related autoantibodies) who are interested in dietary prevention or future clinical studies would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People with long-standing type 1 diabetes who have very little remaining insulin-producing beta-cell function are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to specific dietary changes or immune targets that help prevent or slow autoimmune damage in people at risk for type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and some human observations suggest diet can change diabetes risk—hydrolyzed casein protected mice while adding gluten reversed that protection—yet direct human evidence remains limited.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHERVONSKY, ALEXANDER V — UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: CHERVONSKY, ALEXANDER V
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.