Abstract

Different forms of virus induced infections are related to the enlarged risk of diabetogenic diseases in humans. Human cytomegalovirus infection has been advised by multiple studies to be one amongst the causative agents. HCMV infection has been linked to the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as post-transplantation diabetes. The limited amount of available data indicates that active HCMV infection increases the risk of diabetes by either inhibiting the release of insulin from pancreatic cells or specifically destructing the pancreatic β cells. The mechanism is mainly attributed to the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that eventually results in programmed cell death or critical disturbances to the functioning of the β-cells.

Keywords: Human cytomegalovirus; Type 1 and type 2 diabetes; Cytokines; Pancreatic β cell