Insulin-specific IgG and IgE antibody response in type I diabetic subjects exclusively treated with human insulin (recombinant DNA).

Bovine and porcine insulins elicit specific antibody response in diabetic subjects after a few months of treatment. In seven type I diabetic individuals who were exclusively treated with human insulin (recombinant DNA) each month, sera were examined for the development of insulin-specific IgG and IgE antibodies. In all patients (except one), IgG antibodies occurred after 2 mo and tended to further increase in concentration after 5-6 mo. IgE antibodies could be detected after 1 mo with a further increase after 2-3 mo and a marked decline thereafter. No patient exhibited allergic symptoms. The results indicate that physicochemical properties of insulin preparations used for treatment and the route of administration are of more importance for immunogenicity than species differences of insulin.