Figure 1: Cause, Development and Immune intervention of AID. Genes, environment and immune dysregulation drive AID development. During disease development, antigen-presenting cells (APC) capture autoantigens, move to the pancreatic lymph nodes (PLN). After activation, Teff cells differentiate into different subsets, enter the pancreatic islets, release pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-a and perforin) and destroy b-cells. Eight intervention steps to prevent AID are proposed. Step 1: APC activation. Step 2: Activation and differentiation of T cell subsets, respectively. Step 3: Impairment of APC by MDSC. Step 4: Inactivation of Teff cells by MDSC. Step 5: Induction of Treg by MDSC. Step 6: Treg cell inhibition of Teff activation by IL-2 deprivation and B7 reduction. Step 7: Reduction of TNF-a and IFN-γ production in Teff cells by Treg cells. Step 8: Migration of immune cells into pancreatic islets. Arrow (thin line) and inhibitory sign (thick line) indicate promotion and suppression, respectively.