Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
Methods:Islet autoantibodies (glutamic acid decarboxylase, insulinoma-associated protein 2 and zinc transporter-8 antibodies) were measured in the serum of participants who attended the 2011-2013 Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications study follow-up examination (n=177, mean age 51 years, diabetes duration 43 years).
Results:Prevalences of islet autoantibodies were: glutamic acid decarboxylase, 32%; insulinoma-associated protein 2, 22%; and zinc transporter-8, 4%. Positivity for each islet autoantibody was associated with older age at diabetes onset (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, P=0.03; insulinoma-associated protein 2 antibodies, P=0.001; zinc transporter-8 antibodies, P<0.0001). Older age at onset was also associated with an increasing number of autoantibodies (P = 0.001). Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody positivity was also associated with lower HbA1c (P = 0.02), insulinoma-associated protein 2 antibody positivity was associated with lower prevalence of severe hypoglycaemic episodes (P=0.02) and both distal and autonomic neuropathy (P=0.04 for both), and zinc transporter-8 antibody positivity was associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol (P=0.01). No association between autoantibody positivity and C-peptide was observed.
Conclusions:The strong association between islet autoantibody positivity and older age at type 1 diabetes onset supports the hypothesis of a less aggressive, and thus more persistent, immune process in those with older age at onset. This observation suggests that there may be long-term persistence of heterogeneity in the underlying autoimmune process.
SUBMITTER: Miller RG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7369217 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature