METHOD OF ASSESSING THE RISKS OF DEVELOPING TYPE I DIABETES

摘要

Two subsets of Islet Cell Autoantibodies (ICA), termed restricted and non-restricted, have been identified. The expression of non-restricted ICA correlates with progression to type I diabetes, indicating that these individuals are at much greater risk than are individuals expressing restricted ICA. Differentiation between restricted or non-restricted ICA allows for more accurate prognosis of the development of type I diabetes. Restricted ICA react with beta cells of human and rat islets but not mouse, whereas non-restricted ICA react with human, rat and mouse islets. Restricted ICA can be substantially completely absorbed by incubation with glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), whereas non-restricted ICA are partially or not at all absorbed by GAD. Restricted ICA react in a Stiff-Man Syndrome fashion including staining GABAergic neurons in brain sections and western blots of brain extracts, whereas non-restricted ICA does not react with either brain sections nor with GAD antigen in western blots. Restricted ICA contains a higher titer of anti-GAD antibodies than does non-restricted ICA.