Fas and Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis and its role in autoimmune diabetes

The relationship between Fas-mediated apoptosis and Type 1 diabetes is currently under investigation. Fas/Fas ligand interaction could be involved both in the insulitis process and in beta-cell death. Nevertheless, different mechanisms appear to be involved in human Type 1 diabetes and in NOD mice. In the present work, we review recent evidence of the role of the Fas/Fas ligand system in human and NOD mouse diabetes, describing possible hypotheses fur its involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease, with possible implications for therapy and islet transplantation. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.