Methods and Means for Use in Diagnostics and Treatment of Diabetes

Abstract

The present invention identified novel epitopes from the insulin B chain which is embodied in methods and means for diagnostics and treatment of type 1 diabetes. The epitopes were found in a peptide comprising a fragment of the human insulin B chain. Using HLA-A2 tetramers having the peptide of the invention cytotoxic T-cells were found in peripheral blood cells samples from healthy individuals. The invention demonstrates that these autoreactive CTL directed against insulin B chain are able to destroy insulin producing beta-cells. Moreover, a significant proportion of cytotoxic T-cells from islet transplant recipients with recurrent autoimmunity and loss of insulin production recognized this peptide or analogue thereof. The peptide has a high affinity for the HLA-A2 allele, in particular HLA-A*0201. Based on the novel epitopes according to the invention, diagnostic and therapeutic methods and medicaments for the prevention or treatment of type 1 diabetes are provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.