In this manner, the inflamed lesions of the pancreas observed in NOD mice may serve to attract CCR9+ Tfh cells from the GIT and GIT-associated lymphoid tissues, or CCR9+ Th cells from the GIT that acquire Tfh characteristics in the pancreas or pancreatic lymph nodes, to participate in the destruction of self-tissue in the pancreas and development of autoimmunity. The gene discussed is CCR9; the disease is Autoimmunity.