[Molecular biological aspects of the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus]

The discovery of the key role played by the immune system in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) opens up new possibilities for its early diagnosis, at the stages preceding its clinical manifestation. Analysed are the markers of genetic susceptibility to IDDM associated with some major histocompatibility complex antigens (specifically with HLA-DR 3, HLA-DR4, and HLA-DQ), of the cellular and humoral anti-islet autoimmunity, as well as the origin of the islet-cell autoantigens. The markers' significance for the diagnosis and prognosis is discussed.