Abstract
The aim was to study the natural course of diabetes-related autoantibodies at low concentrations, below "positivity", in a nondiabetic population followed up from infancy. Blood samples were taken from 205 children at 6 weeks, 6 months, 18 months, and 5 years of age. Autoantibodies against GAD(65) (GADA), tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2A), and insulin (IAA) were determined by radioligand-binding assays. All children had detectable levels of GADA and approximately half had IA-2A, but only approximately 10% had detectable levels of IAA during the follow-up period. Many children developed IA-2A already at 6 months of age, similar concentrations were seen at 18 months, and then the levels of IA-2A decreased until 5 years of age. GADA were induced less often at 6 months of age, increased up to 18 months, and fluctuated at similar levels up to 5 years of age. IAA were detectable in so few children and at low levels, so no trend in natural course could be revealed. We conclude that there is a natural induction of humoral immune response to beta cell autoantigens early in life. Our results suggest that the mechanisms of beta cell tolerance to GAD and IA-2 differ in healthy children.
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