TY - JOUR T1 - Molecular aspects of type 1 diabetes JF - Molecular Pathology JO - Mol Pathol SP - 1 LP - 10 DO - 10.1136/mp.56.1.1 VL - 56 IS - 1 AU - M A Kelly AU - M L Rayner AU - C H Mijovic AU - A H Barnett Y1 - 2003/02/01 UR - http://mp.bmj.com/content/56/1/1.abstract N2 - Type 1 diabetes is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease, characterised by the selective destruction of pancreatic β cells, and susceptibility is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental agents implicated include viruses and dietary factors, although none has yet been shown to be directly responsible for triggering β cell autoimmunity. The genetic factors that influence disease risk have been subjected to more intensive study and two gene regions of major importance have been identified: the human leucocyte antigen locus and the insulin gene. This review will focus on the mechanisms by which these genes might influence the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. ER -