How pancreatic CD8 immune cells target insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetes
Specificity, Phenotype and Function of Pancreatic CD8 T Cells in Human Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers are identifying and describing pancreatic CD8 T cells that may attack insulin-producing beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11057730 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have type 1 diabetes, this work focuses on immune cells called CD8 T cells inside the pancreas that are thought to kill insulin-making beta cells. The team uses donated human pancreases from the nPOD program and specialized tetramer staining to find, count, and map CD8 T cells that react to pre-proinsulin. They examine the cells' characteristics, precise locations in the islets across disease stages, and test their functional behavior in the lab. The goal is to connect cell features and location to disease progression to better understand how and when beta cells are targeted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors are people with type 1 diabetes across different disease durations who can donate pancreas tissue through organ-donor programs or participate in related sample-collection efforts.
Not a fit: People with non-autoimmune diabetes (for example typical type 2 diabetes or monogenic diabetes) or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this tissue-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal specific immune targets and markers that help guide future treatments to protect or preserve beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work by this group and others has already detected and located autoreactive pre-proinsulin–specific CD8 T cells in human islets, but translating these findings into therapies remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quesada Masachs, Estefania — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Quesada Masachs, Estefania
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.