Viruses and the aetiology of diabetes: a study in identical twins.
Sera were collected from 49 pairs of identical twins, 27 of whom were discordant (only one twin affected) and 22 concordant (both diabetic) for insulin-dependent diabetes. All were tested for antibodies to mumps, cytomegalovirus, rubella, Coxsackie virus types B1-5, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The diabetic co-twins had no more antibodies to any of the viruses than the non-diabetic co-twins of the discordant pairs. Antibodies to Coxsackie B2, rubella virus, and M pneumoniae were found more often in the discordant than in the concordant twins. In 30 of the 71 diabetic twins symptoms began when they were aged 4-6 years or 10-15 years. More concordant than discordant twins were diagnosed during the months January to March. Hence there was no direct evidence of a virus aetiology of juvenile onset diabetes in these twins, and the difference in antibody titres between the concordant and discordant twins was in keeping with a genetic difference between them. The age and time of onset suggested that environmental factors may be important in causing diabetes in the twins.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D012621:Seasons; D014777:Virus Diseases
D000914:Antibodies, Viral