Autoantibodies in nonobese diabetic mice immunoprecipitate 64,000-Mr islet antigen

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Abstract
In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in humans and BB rats, islet cell autoimmunities associated with autoantibodies to a β-cell protein of 64,000 M r (64K) have been described. We report that sera from newly diagnosed nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice similarly contain an autoantibody that immunoprecipitates 64K autoantigen from detergent lysates of [35S]methionine-labeled murine islet cells. The autoantibody was detectable by weaning; it disappeared within weeks after diabetes onset and was absent in older nondiabetic NOD mice as well as all of three non-diabetes-prone control strains tested. The 64K β-cell autoantigen may be a critical target in the immunopathogenesis of IDDM.