Autoantibodies in Type 1 Diabetes

Authors

  • Robyn Houlden, MD, FRCPC Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cdet.2025.3240

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive destruction of pancreatic β cells. This process is mediated by both cellular (T lymphocyte) and humoral (autoantibody) immune responses. Although T cells play a central pathogenic role, autoantibodies are the earliest detectable markers of β cell autoimmunity and are instrumental in diagnosing and predicting disease progression. Although T1D develops on a background of genetic risk, most individuals with genetic risk never develop type 1 diabetes. In contrast, virtually all individuals with 2 or more islet autoantibodies eventually develop type 1 diabetes.

Author Biography

Robyn Houlden, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Dr. Robyn Houlden is Professor and Chair of the Division of Endocrinology at Queen’s University, and a consultant in adult endocrinology at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre. She has been an investigator in a number of clinical trials of new therapies for diabetes and has a research interest in innovative models of diabetes health care delivery. She has published over 150 peer reviewed papers. She has been involved in the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines for over 20 years and chaired the 2018 edition. Throughout her career, she has been the recipient of several honours and awards. In 2002, she was awarded the Charles H. Best Award by Diabetes Canada for her advocacy work in diabetes. In 2024, she was awarded the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Robert Volpe Distinguished Service Award and the Diabetes Canada Gerald S. Wong Service Award.

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Published

2025-10-14

How to Cite

Houlden, R. (2025). Autoantibodies in Type 1 Diabetes . Canadian Diabetes & Endocrinology Today, 3(2), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.58931/cdet.2025.3240

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