PhD Research Summary - Dr. Takiishi
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can develop at any age and still has no cure. This PhD project explored two novel therapeutic strategies in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes.
🔹 Intervention therapy: A combination of low-dose anti-CD3 with genetically modified Lactococcus lactis bacteria producing pro-insulin and IL-10 reversed diabetes in nearly 60% of newly diagnosed mice, linked to preserved beta-cell mass and expansion of regulatory T cells.
🔹 Prevention therapy: Long-term oral vitamin D supplementation from weaning to adulthood significantly reduced diabetes onset without side effects, while shorter or early-life supplementation had no impact.
These results highlight new opportunities for prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes by targeting immune mechanisms, paving the way for clinical translation.
More information can be found via this link.