Insulin-Mimicking Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies in Development of Spontaneous Autoimmune Diabetes in BB/E Rats

Dana Elias; Adrian J Bone; Joyce D Baird; Anne Cooke; Irun R Cohen

doi:10.2337/diab.39.12.1467

Original Articles

Insulin-Mimicking Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies in Development of Spontaneous Autoimmune Diabetes in BB/E Rats

Dana Elias,
Adrian J Bone,
Joyce D Baird,
Anne Cooke and
Irun R Cohen

Department of Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel Metabolic Unit, University Department of Medicine, Western General Hospital Edinburgh Professional Medical Unit, Southhampton General Hospital Southhampton Department of Immunology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine London, United Kingdom

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Irun R. Cohen, Department of Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Diabetes 1990 Dec; 39(12): 1467-1471. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.39.12.1467

Abstract

BB/E rats spontaneously develop a form of autoimmune diabetes resembling insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in humans. IDDM results from central destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreatic islets. Herein, we report that the outbreak of IDDM in BB/E rats is preceded by the spontaneous development of an anti-idiotypic antibody to a particular antibody to insulin made by the rats. This anti-idiotype, designated anti-DM-id, behaves as an antibody to the insulin-hormone receptor. Thus, a spontaneous anti-idiotypic antibody network whose products can affect the peripheral utilization of insulin seems to accompany the central destruction of β-cells in developing IDDM.