Autoimmune diabetes and its antigenic triggers

Abstract

Susceptibility to insulin-dependent disease is largely determined by alterations in an HLA gene. In addition to insulin, several other antigenic triggers have been identified. One of these, glutamic acid decarboxylase-65, appears to be a primary trigger and may be a key to future treatment. Experimentally, intrathymic or intravenous injection of GAD-65 dampens the autoimmune response and delays disease.