Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an enormous public health issue worldwide. Recent data suggest that chronic arsenic exposure is linked to the risk of developing type 1 and type 2 DM, albeit the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This review discusses the role of the immune system as a link to possibly explain some of the mechanisms of developing T1DM or T2DM associated with arsenic exposure in humans, animal models, and in vitro studies. The rationale for the hypothesis includes: (1) Arsenic is a well-recognized modulator of the immune system; (2) arsenic exposures are associated with increased risk of DM; and (3) dysregulation of the immune system is one of the hallmarks in the pathogenesis of both T1DM and T2DM. A better understanding of DM in association with immune dysregulation and arsenic exposures may help to understand how environmental exposures modulate the immune system and how these effects may impact the manifestation of disease.

糖尿病 (DM) 是全球范围内一个巨大的公共卫生问题。最近的数据表明，慢性砷暴露与患 1 型和 2 型糖尿病的风险有关，尽管其潜在机制尚不清楚。这篇综述讨论了免疫系统的作用，作为一种可能解释与人类、动物模型和体外砷暴露相关的 T1DM 或 T2DM 发展机制的一些机制学习。该假设的基本原理包括：(1) 砷是公认的免疫系统调节剂；(2) 砷暴露与 DM 风险增加有关；(3) 免疫系统失调是 T1DM 和 T2DM 发病机制的标志之一。更好地了解与免疫失调和砷暴露相关的 DM 可能有助于了解环境暴露如何调节免疫系统以及这些影响如何影响疾病的表现。