LBP and type 1 diabetes mellitus: In addition, the level of LPS-binding protein (LBP), a surrogate marker for antigen load derived from gut bacteria21, and the level of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose production is stimulated by LPS22, were both significantly elevated in the T1D group compared with that in the NC group (Fig. 4f, g).