Abstract
Viruses have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Recently it has been observed that β-cell specific expression of endogenous retrovirus is associated with the development of insulins and diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of retroviral markers in 27 newly diagnosed IDDM children, aged 9.6±3.8 yrs (range 3-15.9 yrs). In all patients anti-islet cell (ICA), anti-insulin (IAA), anti-thyroid (TgA and MsA) antibodies were evaluated and HLA typing was performed. Virological studies included the search for anti-retrovirus (HTLVs) antibodies using the western immunoblotting (WIB) and the HTLV-I DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for tax/rex pol, and gag (PIS) regions. At onset of IDDM ICA were present in 19 patients (70%) and IAA in 2 of them, while all patients were negative for TgA and MsA. HTLVs antibodies were detected in 10 out of the 27 patients (37%) while no HTLV-I DNA sequencies were detected using our PCR assay. Interestingly, we have observed a frequent association between the presence of HTLVs antibodies and the presence of HLA-DR3 and DQ2 antigens. Until now, during 1-2.6 yrs follow-up we could revalue 13 children, four with HTLVs antibodies and 9 without antibodies. In 2/4 patients the HTLVs antibodies disappeared and in another boy, with five antibodies at onset of IDDM (directed against p 19, rgp21, p24, p26, p36) only one antibody (directed against rgp 21) was constantly present.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lorini, R., Cortona, L., Scaramuzza, A. et al. ANTI-RETROVIRUS ANTIBODIES IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC CHILDREN AT DIAGNOSIS AND DURING 1–2.6 YRS FOLLOW-UP. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S75 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00432
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00432