IL-6 is a key upstream regulator for the differentiation of T helper 17 (TH17) cells (68), inducing inflammation and β cell cytotoxicity (38, 69); (iii) OPG and DMB significantly reduce inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-γ, both known to stimulate the autoimmune response in T1D (69), in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but only in the presence of monocytes. Here, CD8A is linked to type 1 diabetes mellitus.