Autoantibodies in Type 1 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Autoimmune diseases are associated with autoantibodies which recognise specific antigens.


METHODS
Autoantibodies can be detected by various methods including immunofluorescence and radioimmunoassays using disease-specific radiolabelled recombinant autoantigens As recombinant assay have high-throughput potential, it is now even possible to screen whole populations.


RESULTS
Diabetes-associated autoantibodies including autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase are valuable in disease classification and disease prediction. Some autoantibodies are more predictive of diabetes than others.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoantibodies, and the antigens they recognise, are potentially valuable in the prediction and prevention respectively of type 1 diabetes as well as in the classification of autoimmune diabetes. Screening the general population for type 1 diabetes susceptibility is now feasible. Trials to prevent type 1 diabetes using disease-associated autoantigens are now in progress.
Schmidt
K D
KD
Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom.
Valeri
C
C
Leslie
R D G
RD
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase