Islet cell and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies and heat-shock protein 65 responses in children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected in 66% and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies in 64% of children ( n = 47) with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Fifteen percent of the patients had neither GAD nor ICA antibodies. Responses to mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (Hsp65) were detected in all patients. There was a significant correlation between anti-GAD antibodies and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to Hsp65, and between ICA and antibodies to Hsp65.