Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease with expression and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from pancreatic islet infiltrating immune cells, especially tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and other mediators, which cause selective apoptotic β cell death [1–3]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.