Macrophage stimulation was assessed by determining the release of representative mediators relevant in the immunopathogenesis of T1D, particularly tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), identified as potent beta cell-damaging cytokines [14], as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6), playing an important role as immunostimulatory cytokine in diabetes [15, 16]. Here, TNF is linked to diabetes mellitus.