[Diabetes and autoimmune diseases. II]

Antipancreas autoimmunity is one of several immunity problems in diabetes. Such of its features as are revealed by inhibition of leukocyte migration, lymphocyte transformation in response to insulin antigens, relation between cell autoimmunity and later complications, and the behaviour of peripheral T and B lymphocyte membrane markers are explained. The aetiological role of viral infections is discussed, and the pathogenetic hypothesis deducible from the histological findings. Lastly, the modalities underlying a combination between the HLA (human leukocyte antigen) system and diabetes are considered.