Materials And Methods For Detection And Treatment Of Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Description of Invention:
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) affects close to one million people in the United States. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body's own insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas. Patients require daily injections of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. The invention identified two proteins, named IA-2 and IA-2beta, that are important markers for type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes. IA-2/IA-2beta, when used in diagnostic tests, recognized autoantibodies in 70 percent of IDDM patients. Combining IA-2/IA-2beta with other known markers increased the level of identification to 90 percent of individuals with IDDM. Moreover, the presence of autoantibodies to IA-2/IA-2beta in otherwise normal individuals was highly predictive in identifying those at risk of ultimately developing clinical disease. It is now possible to develop a rapid and effective test that can screen large populations for IDDM. In addition, IA-2/IA-2beta are candidates for immune tolerance and prevention of disease development.
Inventors:
AL Notkins (NIDCR) et al.
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-184-1995/0 --
U.S. Patent No. 6,391,651 issued 21 May 2002
DHHS Reference No. E-184-1995/1 --
U.S. Patent 5,989,551 issued 23 Nov 1999
For Additional Information Please Contact: Tara L. Kirby Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)435-4426
Email: tarak@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301)402-0220
