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Aims: The aim of this study was to explore whether islet cell antibodies (ICA) could be identified in children with newly onset diabetes mellitus but negative for autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), islet antigen-2 (IA-2A), insulin (IAA), or any of the three variants with arginine (R), tryptophan (W), or glutamine (Q) at position 325 of the zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8A)., Methods: A population-based analysis of autoantibodies was performed from 1 May 2005 to 2 September 2010 in Swedish children newly diagnosed with diabetes. ICA was analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and if positive, reanalyzed in the classical ICA immunofluorescence assay, in 341 samples among 3545 children who had been tested negative for all of GADA, IA-2A, IAA, or ZnT8A (R, W, Q)., Results: An isolated positivity for ICA was identified in 5.0% (17/341) of the newly diagnosed children. The levels of ICA in positive subjects ranged from 3 to 183 JDF-U (median 30). This finding increased the diagnostic sensitivity of islet autoimmunity as 3204/3545 patients (90.4%) were islet autoantibody positive without the ICA analyses and 3221 patients (90.9%) were positive with the inclusion of ICA., Conclusions: The finding of an isolated positivity for ICA despite negativity for GADA, IA-2A, IAA, and ZnT8A (R, W, Q) suggests that still another yet unidentified autoantigen(s) may contribute to the ICA immunofluorescence. Hence, ICA is important to analyze in type 1 diabetes children and adolescents that would otherwise be islet autoantibody negative., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Autoantibodies to the islet-specific zinc transporter isoform 8 (ZnT8) are detected in the majority of type 1 diabetes patients prior to and at clinical diagnosis. The presence of ZnT8Ab after diagnosis has not been investigated. This study analyzed the autoantibody response to ZnT8 in regard to age at onset and disease duration. Two new onset type 1 diabetes patient cohorts with different age distributions at onset (2-17 and 15-34 years of age at onset), a longitudinal subset of the younger type 1 diabetes patient cohort (n = 32), and a cohort of GAD65Ab-positive LADA patients (n = 47) was analyzed for the presence of autoantibodies directed to the two major isoforms, ZnT8-Arginine (ZnT8R) and ZnT8-Tryptophan (ZnT8W). The majority of type 1 diabetes patients tested positive for ZnT8Ab to both isoforms. ZnT8Ab titers were significantly higher in the younger type 1 diabetes patients as compared with the older cohort (ZnT8RAb at a median of 148 and 29 U/ml, respectively, p < 0.001) (ZnT8WAb at a median of 145 and 58 U/ml, respectively, p < 0.01). ZnT8RAb and ZnT8WAb titers were significantly lower in the LADA patients (ZnT8RAb at a median of 14 U/ml, ZnT8WAb at a median of 25 U/ml) as compared with either type 1 diabetes cohorts. In our longitudinal analysis of type 1 diabetes patients after clinical diagnosis, ZnT8Ab levels to both isoforms declined significantly during the initial year of disease (ZnT8RAb from a median of 320-162 U/ml, p = 0.0001; ZnT8WAb from a median of 128-46 U/ml, p = 0.0011). The antibody titers further declined during the following 4 years (p < 0.0001). We conclude that ZnT8Ab presents a useful marker for type 1 diabetes, especially in younger patients at disease diagnosis.

Autoantibodies to the 65-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase GAD65 (GAD65Ab) are strong candidates for a pathological role in Stiff-Person syndrome (SPS). We have analyzed the binding specificity of the GAD65Ab in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 12 patients with SPS by competitive displacement studies with GAD65-specific rFab-derived from a number of human and mouse mAbs specific for different determinants on the Ag. We demonstrate considerable differences in the epitope specificity when comparing paired serum and CSF samples, suggesting local stimulation of B cells in the CSF compartment of these patients. Moreover, these autoantibodies strongly inhibit the enzymatic activity of GAD65, thus blocking the formation of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid. The capacity of the sera to inhibit the enzymatic activity of GAD65 correlated with their binding to a conformational C-terminal Ab epitope. Investigation of the inhibitory mechanism revealed that the inhibition could not be overcome by high concentrations of glutamate or the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate, suggesting a noncompetitive inhibitory mechanism. Finally, we identified a linear epitope on amino acids residues 4-22 of GAD65 that was recognized solely by autoantibodies from patients with SPS but not by serum from type 1 diabetes patients. A mAb (N-GAD65 mAb) recognizing this N-terminal epitope was successfully humanized to enhance its potential therapeutic value by reducing its overall immunogenicity.

The identification of disease-specific autoantibodies to the 65-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) epitopes in type 1 diabetes has been hampered by their conformational nature. Here, we compared two methods of GAD65Ab epitope analysis: GAD65/67 fusion proteins and competition assays using GAD65-specific recombinant fraction antigen binding (rFab). Sera from newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients (n=61) were studied using both approaches. Competition of GAD65 binding by an rFab to a specific epitope did not correlate with binding to the fusion protein that represented this epitope. Conversely, samples that bound to specific fusion proteins were not necessarily competed with rFab specific to determinants in the same region. We conclude that epitopes of different characteristics are detected by fusion proteins and by competition with rFab. Fusion proteins allow the definition of large epitope regions; however, some conformational GAD65Ab epitopes, especially those residing in the middle region, are destroyed or distorted in the fusion proteins. Competition studies using rFab allow the identification of conformational epitopes. However, monoclonal rFab may only reflect a limited proportion of the epitopes recognized by polyclonal sera. A combined analysis using both approaches may therefore be necessary to gain best understanding of autoantibody characteristics and affinity maturation.

Autoantibodies to the 65-kDa isoform of GAD (GAD65Abs) are associated with type 1 diabetes development, but the conformational nature of the GAD65Ab epitopes complicates the evaluation of disease risk. Six GAD65-specific recombinant Fabs (rFabs) were cloned from monoclonal antibodies b96.11, DP-C, DP-A, DPD, 144, and 221-442. The binding of GAD65Abs in 61 type 1 diabetic patients to GAD65 was analyzed by competitive radioimmunoassays with the six rFabs to ascertain disease-specific GAD65Ab binding specificities. The median binding was reduced significantly by rFab b96.11 (72%) (P < 0.0001), DP-A (84%) (P < 0.0001), DP-C (84%) (P < 0.0001), 221-442 (79%) (P < 0.0001), and DP-D (80%) (P < 0.0001). The competition pattern in type 1 diabetic patients differed from that in GAD65Ab-positive late autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) patients (n = 44), first-degree relatives (n = 38), and healthy individuals (n = 14). Whereas 87 and 72% of the type 1 diabetic sera were competed by rFab b96.11 and DP-C, respectively, only 34 and 26% of LADA patients, 18 and 25% of first-degree relatives, and 7 and 28% of healthy individuals showed competition (P < 0.0001). These findings support the view that type 1 diabetes is associated with disease- and epitope-specific GAD65Abs and supports the notion that the middle epitope is disease associated. These GAD65-specific rFabs should prove useful in predicting type 1 diabetes and in the study of conformational GAD65Ab epitopes.

Wild bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) may develop diabetes in laboratory captivity. The aim of this study was to test whether bank voles develop type 1 diabetes in association with Ljungan virus. Two groups of bank voles were analyzed for diabetes, pancreas histology, autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), IA-2, and insulin by standardized radioligand-binding assays as well as antibodies to in vitro transcribed and translated Ljungan virus antigens. Group A represented 101 trapped bank voles, which were screened for diabetes when euthanized within 24 hours of capture. Group B represented 67 bank voles, which were trapped and kept in the laboratory for 1 month before being euthanized. Group A bank voles did not have diabetes. Bank voles in group B (22/67; 33%) developed diabetes due to specific lysis of pancreatic islet beta cells. Compared to nondiabetic group B bank voles, diabetic animals had increased levels of GAD65 (P < .0001), IA-2 (P < .0001), and insulin (P = .03) autoantibodies. Affected islets stained positive for Ljungan virus, a novel picorna virus isolated from bank voles. Ljungan virus inoculation of nondiabetic wild bank voles induced beta-cell lysis. Compared to group A bank voles, Ljungan virus antibodies were increased in both nondiabetic (P < .0001) and diabetic (P = .0015) group B bank voles. Levels of Ljungan virus antibodies were also increased in young age at onset of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in children (P < .01). These findings support the hypothesis that the development of type 1 diabetes in captured wild bank voles is associated with Ljungan virus. It is speculated that bank voles may have a possible zoonotic role as a reservoir and vector for virus that may contribute to the incidence of type 1 diabetes in humans., (Copyright 2003 Taylor and Francis)

Autoantibodies to GAD65 (GAD65Ab) are prominent in type 1 diabetes. These autoantibodies may be present both years before and after the clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and are widely used as a marker for the disease. Recently it has been demonstrated that progression to type 1 diabetes is accompanied by GAD65Ab epitope maturation. Here we examine whether autoantibody maturation processes also progress after the clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Antibody reactivity to GAD65, GAD67 and GAD65/67 fusion proteins was measured by radioimmunoassays in 62 children with type 1 diabetes. Samples were taken at diagnosis and five years later. While the overall GAD65Ab level declined over time, the epitope pattern was remarkably stable with no significant changes in binding pattern. Loss of GAD65Ab-positivity was associated with significantly lower GAD65Ab indices at diagnosis compared to patients' sera that remained GAD65Ab-positive. The decrease in GAD65Ab levels did not correlate to residual C-peptide levels. Our data suggest that processes controlling GAD65Ab levels and epitope binding patterns remain stable during the first five years of type 1 diabetes., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.)