Increased Circulating Ia-Antigen-Bearing T Cells in Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

THE hypothesis that Type I, or insulin-requiring, diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease has recently been reviewed by Cahill and McDevitt.1 This hypothesis is supported by the discovery of antiislet antibodies, by characteristic associations between HLA and the disease, by the lymphocytic infiltration of islets found early in the course of the disease, and by abnormalities of cell-mediated immune function.1 These findings and the success of immunotherapy in animal models of Type I diabetes have prompted investigation of immunotherapy in the treatment of early insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus.2 , 3 Ideally, immunotherapy of Type I diabetes would be initiated before the majority of . . .