Abstract
Like other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, endocrine autoimmune diseases are genetically determined. The role of HLA remains central, essentially by permitting recognition of autoantigenic peptides and ultimately differentiation of helper or effector T cells. The association, only strong in the case of IDDM, is significant but much less clear cut for other diseases that are mostly associated with DR3, posing the question of other mechanisms than Ir gene control. The nature and role of non HLA genes are still elusive. However, regarding the data obtained in the spontaneous experimental models of the NOD mouse, the BB rat and the obese chicken it may be anticipated that such genes will be defined in man in a not too distant future. Undoubtedly, their knowledge will illuminate the common features and unique pecularities of all these diseases and hopefully provide, together with HLA genes, the basis for new therapeutic approaches that will no longer be based only on substitutive therapy, as performed nowadays.
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