The anti-insulin trimolecular complex in type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Description of the immunologic components needed for autoimmune diabetes.


RESULTS
The major histocompatability complex (MHC) class II molecules are the primary susceptibility genes for many autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes. Understanding of the structural interaction between MHC molecules, antigenic peptides, and T-cell receptors (the three components of the trimolecular complex) has increased greatly over the past several years. The components of the anti-insulin trimolecular complex and findings that insulin is a key autoantigen in type 1 diabetes are reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-insulin trimolecular complex is well defined in the nonobese diabetic mouse model. Insulin and specifically, the amino acid sequence 9 to 23 of the insulin B chain, represents a primary antigenic target for islet autoimmunity in the nonobese diabetic mouse model of type 1 diabetes with a specific mutation of this peptide preventing all diabetes. Initial studies suggest the human homologs of the anti-insulin trimolecular complex may be relevant in human disease.
Michels
Aaron W
AW
Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. Aaron.Michels@ucdenver.edu
Nakayama
Maki
M
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007328:Insulin; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell