Virus in pancreas linked to diabetes type 1

A team of UK researchers has found that a common family of enteroviruses may play an important role in triggering the development of diabetes,  particularly in children. These viruses usually cause symptoms similar  to the common cold, or vomiting and diarrhea. However, the team has now  provided evidence that they are also found frequently in the pancreas of  people who develop the sugar storage disorder.

The research, which was published in the March 6 issue of Diabetologia,  involved the detailed study of a unique collection of pancreases from 72  young people who died less than a year after the diagnosis of type 1  diabetes.

A team of scientists led by Noel Morgan found that over 60% of the  organs contained evidence of enteroviral infection of the beta cells. By  contrast, infected beta cells were hardly ever seen in tissue samples  from 50 children without the condition.