<p>This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p> <p>To study the antigens involved in the islet cell
antibody (ICA) reaction we selected 30 patient
serum samples (ten in each group) positive for ICA
and one other additional autoantibody, such as
glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA),
thyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA-2A) or insulin
autoantibodies (IAA). The serum samples were
incubated with the specific antigen (GAD65, IA-2 or
insulin) and the ICA analysis and the corresponding
immunoprecipitation assay were performed before
and after the absorption.</p> <p>We could then demonstrate that specific autoantibodies
against GAD65 and IA-2 could be absorbed
with the corresponding antigen, since ten GADA
positive and six IA-2A samples turned completely
negative. However, the ICA reaction after absorption
with GADA, IA-2A and insulin was still present,
although at significantly lower levels. The results
strongly indicate that the ICA reaction represents
simultaneous autoimmunity against several other
antigens beside GAD65, IA-2 and insulin.</p>
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Int J Exp Diabetes Res. 2001; 2(2):85-90