Abstract
Insulin, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule IA-2 are major targets of humoral autoimmunity in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). These autoantibodies are heterogeneous with respect to age and patient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype. We have previously demonstrated that GAD and IA-2 antibodies potentially identify different subsets of IDDM patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether GAD and IA-2 autoantibodies were associated with different HLA DR phenotypes. We studied 160 patients with IDDM onset before age 16 years. At disease onset serum was tested for GAD and IA-2 antibodies by immunoprecipitation of in vitro-translated 35S-methionine labelled recombinant proteins. IA-2 antibodies were significantly associated with HLA DR4: 67 (86%) of 78 patients with HLA DR4 vs 31 (38%) of 82 non-DR4 patients had IA-2 antibodies (p(c) <0.0001) and IA-2 antibody levels were higher in patients with HLA DR4 (p(c) <0.0001). In contrast, GAD antibodies were more prevalent (p(c) <0.05) and antibody levels highest (p(c) <0.01) inpatients with HLA DR3 phenotypes. These data provide further evidence that, in IDDM, production and titre of major autoantibody specificities are associated with HLA class II alleles.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1223-1226 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Diabetologia |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 10 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- Autoantibodies
- Glutamic acid decarboxylase
- HLA
- IA-2
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Internal Medicine