Immunosuppression for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

Abstract

After repeated demonstrations of the pathogenic role of autoimmunity in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), physicians have turned their attention to treating this disease with immunosuppressive drugs. Recently, interest has centered on the use of cyclosporine to treat IDDM of recent onset. The rationale for its use is the observation that T cells play a central part in the development of IDDM, and that T-cell function is the activity chiefly affected by cyclosporine. In two animal models, the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the Bio-Breeding rat, cyclosporine has been found to prevent the development of diabetes, and human studies reported previously . . .