title: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in an Italian cohort of type 1 diabetes pediatric patients.
abstract: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of Johne's disease in ruminants. Recent studies have linked MAP to type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Sardinian population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MAP infection in a T1D cohort from continental Italy compared with healthy control subjects. 247 T1D subjects and 110 healthy controls were tested for the presence of MAP. MAP DNA was detected using IS900-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of antibodies towards a MAP antigen, heparin binding hemoagglutinin (HBHA), was detected by ELISA. We demonstrated a higher MAP DNA prevalence in plasma samples from T1D patients and a stronger immune response towards MAP HBHA, compared with healthy control subjects. Moreover, in the recent onset patients, we observed an association between anti-MAP antibodies and HLA DQ2 (DQA1 0201/DQB1 0202). These findings taken together support the hypothesis of MAP as an environmental risk factor for the development of T1D in genetically predisposed subjects, probably involving a mechanism of molecular mimicry between MAP antigens and pancreatic islet β-cells.
authors: Pediatric Diabetology Unit, Policlinico di Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Luisa Manca
authors: ML
authors: Bitti
authors: Speranza
authors: S
authors: Masala
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Capasso
authors: Novella
authors: N
authors: Rapini
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Piccinini
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Angelini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Pierantozzi
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Lidano
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Pietrosanti
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Paccagnini
authors: Leonardo A
authors: LA
authors: Sechi
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial