Microbiota intestinale e diabete mellito di tipo 1: il mimetismo molecolare ed il ruolo della barriera intestinale

Gut microbiota and type 1 diabetes: the molecular mimicry mechanism and the importance of the gut barrier integrity

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting from the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Recent findings highlight microbiota as a possible contributor to the disease. Gut dysbiosis may lead to increased permeability, microbial antigen translocation and immune dysregulation, promoting pancreas autoimmunity. Mechanisms such as molecular mimicry and metabolic shifts may drive the autoimmune process. Understanding these interactions could pave the way for new therapeutic avenues targeting the microbiota to preserve beta cell mass.