Proliferative responses to insulin antigens in diabetics and controls

The proliferative responses of IDDM or NIDDM patients and normal controls to monocomponent pork and beef insulins was assayed over a period of 5 days. No difference was detected in the proliferative responses between the groups. About 25-30% responded to insulin antigens by giving stimulation indices of 1.5 or higher. The exception was the HLA-B8/15 group of patients where no responses (less than or equal to 1.5) were observed. The evidence that the responses detected were insulin specific is discussed, as is the HLA and possible immune response gene linkage.