PNNL

Abstract

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells, resulting in the shortage of insulin and inability to control glycemia. Unfortunately, the process of beta-cell death is poorly understood, and the current best treatment for type 1 diabetes is administration of exogenous insulin. To better understand the process of beta-cell death and to develop new therapies for T1D, there is an urgent need for biomarkers that can reliably predict each stage of the disease. Areas covered: Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and complementary techniques are playing an important role in understanding the processes of the autoimmune response, inflammation and beta-cell death. Mass spectrometry is also a leading technology for the identification of biomarkers. This, and the technical difficulties and new technologies that provide opportunities to characterize small amounts of sample in great depth and to analyze large sample cohorts will be discussed in the present review. Expert opinion: Understanding mechanisms of and discovering biomarkers associated with disease development are interconnected processes that depend on each other to be successful. Ideal biomarkers would be molecules specific to the different stages of the disease process that are released from beta cells to the bloodstream. However, such molecules are likely present in trace amounts in the blood due to the small number of pancreatic beta cells in the human body and the heterogeneity of the target organ and disease process. New and better proteomics technologies will play a major role in achieving a better understanding of the disease and in identifying specific and sensitive biomarkers.