The challenge of modulating β-cell autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes

With the conceptual advance about four decades ago that type 1 diabetes represents an autoimmune disease, hope arose that immune-based therapies would soon emerge to prevent and reverse the disorder. However, despite dozens of clinical trials seeking to achieve these goals, the promise remains unfulfilled, at least in a pragmatic form. With the benefit of hindsight, several important reasons are likely to account for this disappointing outcome,...