Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a human disease involving progressive autoimmune destruction of the b-cells in the pancreatic islets. Inflammatory cytokines are important regulators of T1D, however their precise mechanisms of action in T1D pathogenesis remain unclear. A clearer understanding of these processes will provide better opportunities for therapeutic intervention in human T1D patients.
Recent findings in our laboratory indicate that IL-17 receptors control the development of T1D in animal models. This project seeks to identify the underlying immune mechanisms of T1D protection and test the therapeutic effects of immune inhibitors targeted against these pathways. The project will make use of both mouse and human systems including newly developed gene knockout NOD mice, immune inhibitors, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, cellular and molecular immunology techniques, pancreatic islet isolation, RNA-seq and flow cytometry.
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