Volunteering for JDRF Studies
Researchers at BRI are involved in studying multiple aspects of the immune system and its relation to Type 1 diabetes. While some research is conducted in models of diabetes, many researchers study human blood samples to gain a better understanding of the disease. Blood samples donated by patients with Type 1 diabetes and family members are crucial to continuing this research. Donations may be used in one of the areas listed below or it may be frozen for future research projects.
B-cells project
- B-cells are a part of the immune system involved in making antibodies. Researchers at BRI are analyzing signals inside of B-cells and how these might change based on genetic variations seen in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
Auto-reactive T-cell projects
- A large area of research and expertise at BRI is devoted to understanding auto-reactive T-cells. It is believed that these cells are central to the autoimmune destruction of insulin secreting cells in patients with Type 1 diabetes. An auto-reactive cell is a cell that recognizes a specific portion of a protein (an epitope) and directs other immune cells to attack parts of the body expressing this epitope. Many research projects involve the search for new epitopes that may trigger diabetes. These so-called epitope mapping projects test blood samples from patients with Type 1 diabetes to see whether they react with certain epitopes. A better understanding of the targets of autoimmune destruction allows us to understand how the immune system is triggered in the first place.
- Other research projects involve studying auto-reactive T cells and their reactivity to certain epitopes from proteins such as pro-insulin, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). Researchers are also investigating whether there is any relation between auto-reactive cells directed towards insulin and insulin gene expression.
- BRI scientists are collaborating with other researchers to study the flux of potassium ions in and out of auto-reactive T-cells in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
Regulatory T-cell projects
- Certain cells in the immune system have the ability to suppress other immune cells involved in inflammation. These cells are referred to as regulatory T-cells. Researchers at BRI are studying whether these cells function normally in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
- In a related project, other researchers are investigating whether regulatory T-cells from patients with Type 1 diabetes are able to inhibit the function of aggressive immune cells (referred to as effector cells).
- Scientists are also investigating how immune cells interact with their micro-environment and how this may influence immune function. Current work focuses on the contribution of large molecules in the micro-environment to the function and number of regulatory T-cells. Researchers are testing the hypothesis that individuals prone to developing autoimmunity generate regulatory T-cells poorly in responses to changes to the micro-environment that typify inflammation. This might result in an inability to shut off immune responses, such as those involved in the destruction of insulin secreting cells.
Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and rapamycin mechanistic studies
- For patients enrolled in our intervention trial utilizing IL-2 and rapamycin, researchers are studying T-cells from patients treated with these medications. They are studying the numbers and kinds of T-cells as well as analyzing immune chemical messengers (cytokines) in patients before, during and after treatment.