Thyrogastric autoimmunity and MHC associated alleles at the C4 locus in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes

Diabetologia. 1984 Jul:27 Suppl:124-5. doi: 10.1007/BF00275667.

Abstract

HLA antigens, complement allotypes, insulin antibodies and thyrogastric autoantibodies were determined in 69 patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes defined by a tendency to ketosis, non-obesity and insulin requirement within 2 years of diagnosis. Analysis of HLA and C4 allotypes suggested that Type 1 diabetes was associated with only certain DR3- and DR4-containing supratypes. Low antibody response to insulin was associated with all HLA-DR3, being present in 89% of those with DR3 compared with 48% of those without. Thyrogastric autoantibodies were associated with a null allele at the C4A locus, usually with HLA-B8-C4AQO-C4B1-BfS-DR3. These results indicate that, unlike Type 1 diabetes, low insulin antibody response was associated with all HLA-DR3. Thyrogastric autoantibodies, on the other hand, were associated with a null allele at the C4A locus. It is probable that while interaction between certain HLA-DR3 and DR4-containing supratypes is important in conferring susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes, other manifestations of autoimmunity are associated with supratypes containing C4AQ0, and in particular the diabetogenic supratype HLA-B8-C4AQ0-C4B1-BfS-DR3.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Autoantibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Complement C4 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology*
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen
  • HLA-DR4 Antigen
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insulin Antibodies / biosynthesis
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex
  • Stomach / immunology
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Complement C4
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen
  • HLA-DR4 Antigen
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Insulin Antibodies