title: Immunodominant epitopes of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 and 67 in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: To find the dominant epitopes of a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), we studied the reactivity of peripheral blood T lymphocytes with peptides covering both major isoforms. A significant response to GAD 65 or GAD 67 peptides was detected in 13 of 15 IDDM patients and in 9 of 10 normal controls. Controls most frequently recognised the central region of GAD 65 (residues 161-243). IDDM patients preferentially recognised residues 473-555 (p < 0.03). T-cell responses to GAD 67 peptides were similar in IDDM patients and controls. T lymphocytes from IDDM patients recognise a distinct dominant epitope of GAD, which may be an important target for the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lohmann
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geysen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Londei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase