Immune response genes have a variable influence on the selection of antigenic foreign and self determinants of insulin.

Abstract
We studied the proliferative response of mouse T lymphocytes to determinants on ungulate insulins. The immunopotency of defined determinants on the molecule was found to be regulated by three factors: the immune response genes of the immunized mouse, the mode of presentation of insulin on cells or in adjuvant, and the intramolecular cooperativity between different determinants on the insulin molecule. Autosensitization against self determinants was observed under specific conditions. These findings emphasize the variable expression of immune response genes.