Changes in expression of IL-1β influenced proteins in transplanted islets during development of diabetes in diabetes-prone BB rats

Aims/hypothesis Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial autoimmune disease characterised by selective destruction of beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. We have previously shown that IL-1β modulates beta cell function, causes beta cell death and induces expression changes in 82 out of 1815 protein spots detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) in diabetes-prone bio-breeding (BB-DP) rat islets in vitro. The aim of this study was to describe the relevance of these proteins in the development of diabetes in vivo.