Evidence for genetic control of anti-insulin immunity in juvenile onset diabetes mellitus.

The role of genetic factors in humoral anti-insulin-response was studied in 87 patients with juvenile onset diabetes. A significant insulin antibody formation was found in 76 (87%) juvenile diabetics. By dividing these patients in four groups according to different heights of insulin antibody levels (non-, low-, moderate- and high-responders) a positive or negative correlation between humoral anti-insulin response and certain HLA antigens could be found. Non-responders showed a close association with HLA-B7 positivity, whereas in the insulin high-responder patients, a considerable decrease of HLA-B8 and increase of HLA-Bw15 and HLA-Cw3 was found. These findings indicate that certain genetic constellations within the HLA complex might have an important part in determining humoral anti-insulin immunity.