title: Islet cell antigens in insulin-dependent diabetes: Pandora's box revisited.
abstract: A major goal of research into IDDM has been the identification of the 'causative antigen'. As described in this article by Len Harrison, this reductionist aim is confounded by the fact that numerous candidate islet cell antigens have been described. He scrutinizes the credentials of these candidates and discusses the problem of using autoantibodies to identify causative antigens in a T-cell-mediated disease.
authors: Burnet Clinical Research Unit, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Harrison
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000276:immunology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007328:Insulin; D007527:Isoenzymes; C024211:islet cell antibody; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase