title: Predominance of DR3 in Somali children with type 1 diabetes in the twin cities, Minnesota.
abstract: Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in USA, and pediatric diabetes teams are seeing increasing numbers of Somali children with diabetes.
  
  
  
  To assess the immune basis of diabetes in Somali children in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
  
  
  
  A total of 31 Somali children ≤19 yr were treated for type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota underwent analysis of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles (n = 30) and diabetes autoantibodies [glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), islet antigen 2 (IA-2), zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8); n = 31]. HLA alleles were analyzed in 49 Somalis without diabetes (controls). Anti-transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGA) for celiac disease were also measured.
  
  
  
  In Somali children with T1D aged 13.5 ± 5 yr (35% female, disease duration 6.5 ± 3.6 yr), the most common HLA allele was DRB1*03:01 (93%, compared with 45% of Somali controls), followed by DRB1*13:02 (27%). There was a relatively low frequency of DR4 (13%). Controls showed a similar pattern. All 31 participants were positive for at least one diabetes autoantibody. Insulin antibodies were positive in 84% (all were on insulin). Excluding insulin antibodies, 23 (74%) subjects tested positive for at least one other diabetes autoantibody; 32% had 1 autoantibody, 32% had 2 autoantibodies, and 10% had 3 autoantibodies. GAD65 autoantibodies were found in 56% of subjects, IA-2 in 29%, and ZnT8 in 26%. Four (13%) were TGA positive.
  
  
  
  The autoantibody and HLA profiles of Somali children with diabetes are consistent with autoimmune diabetes. Their HLA profile is unique with an exceptionally high prevalence of DRB1*03:01 allele and relative paucity of DR4 alleles compared with African Americans with T1D.
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Muna
authors: M
authors: Sunni
authors: Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors: Janelle A
authors: JA
authors: Noble
authors: The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Mahamed
authors: Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Lane
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Abdirahman M
authors: AM
authors: Dhunkal
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Melena D
authors: MD
authors: Bellin
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Brandon
authors: B
authors: Nathan
authors: Pediatric Endocrinology and McNeely Diabetes Center, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Kyllo
authors: Pediatric Endocrinology and McNeely Diabetes Center, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
authors: M Jennifer
authors: MJ
authors: Abuzzahab
authors: The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Gottlieb
authors: The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Sunanda
authors: S
authors: Babu
authors: The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Taylor
authors: T
authors: Armstrong
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Antoinette
authors: A
authors: Moran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C500432:HLA-DR0301 antigen; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen
keywords: Somali; T1D; diabetes autoimmunity; human leukocyte antigen