J Karjalainen

University of Oulu, Oulu, Oulu, Finland

Are you J Karjalainen?

Claim your profile

Publications (38)357.32 Total impact

  • Article: Islet cell autoimmunity and progression to insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus in genetically high‐ and low‐risk siblings of diabetic children
    European Journal of Clinical Investigation 06/2008; 26(8):640 - 649. · 3.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Disease‐associated autoantibodies and HLA‐DQB1 genotypes in children with newly diagnosed insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The possible relation between HLA-DQ genotypes and both frequencies and levels of autoantibodies associated with IDDM was assessed by examining HLA-DQB1 alleles and antibodies to islet cells (ICA), insulin (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase-related IA-2 molecule (IA-2A) in 631 newly diagnosed diabetic children under the age of 15 years. ICA were found in 530 children (84.0%), while close to half of the subjects (n = 307; 48.7%) tested positive for IAA. GADA were detected in 461 index cases (73.1%), with a higher frequency in those older than 10 years (78.9% versus 69.2% in the younger ones; P = 0.006). More than 85% of the children (n = 541; 85.7%) tested positive for IA-2A. Altogether there were only 11 children (1.7%) who had no detectable autoantibodies at diagnosis. There were no differences in the prevalence of ICA or GADA between four groups formed according to their HLA-DQB1 genotype (DQB1*0302/02, *0302/X (X = other than *02), *02/Y (Y = other than *0302) and other DQB1 genotypes). The children with the *0302/X genotype had a higher frequency of IA-2A and IAA than those carrying the *02/Y genotype (93.8% versus 67.3%, P < 0.001; and 49.0% versus 33.6%, P = 0.002, respectively). The children with the *02/Y genotype had the highest GADA levels (median 36.2 relative units (RU) versus 14.9 RU in those with *0302/X; P = 0.005). Serum levels of IA-2A and IAA were increased among subjects carrying the *0302/X genotype (median 76.1 RU versus 1.6 RU, P = 0.001; and 50 nU/ml versus 36 nU/ml, P = 0.004) compared with those positive for *02/Y. Only three out of 11 subjects homozygous for *02 (27.3%) tested positive for IA-2A, and they had particularly low IA-2A (median 0.23 RU versus 47.6 RU in the other subjects; P < 0.001). The distribution of HLA-DQB1 genotypes among autoantibody-negative children was similar to that in the other patients. These results show that DQB1*0302, the most important single IDDM susceptibility allele, is associated with a strong antibody response to IA-2 and insulin, while GAD-specific humoral autoimmunity is linked to the *02 allele, in common with a series of other autoimmune diseases as well as IDDM. We suggest that IA-2A may represent β cell-specific autoimmunity, while GADA may represent a propensity to general autoimmunity.
    Clinical & Experimental Immunology 12/2001; 116(1):78 - 83. · 3.36 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Genetic markers, humoral autoimmunity, and prediction of type 1 diabetes in siblings of affected children. Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The relationships between genetic markers and disease-associated autoantibodies were studied in an unselected population of 701 siblings of children with type 1 diabetes, and the predictive characteristics of these markers over a period of 9 years were determined. Increased prevalences of all the antibodies were closely associated with HLA identity to the index case, the DR4 and DQB1*0302 alleles, and the DR3/4 phenotype and the DQB1*02/0302 genotype. Antibodies to GAD (GADA) were also associated with the DR3 and DQB1*02 alleles. Siblings carrying the protective DR2 and DQB1*0602-3 alleles were characterized by lower frequencies of islet cell antibodies (ICA), antibodies to IA-2 (IA-2A), and GADA. Higher levels of ICA were related to HLA identity, the DR4 and DQB1*0302 alleles, and the susceptible DQB1 genotypes, while no significant differences were observed in the levels of IA-2A, GADA, or insulin autoantibodies among siblings with different HLA risk markers. The DR2 or DQB1*0602-3 alleles were not related to the levels of any antibody specificity. A combination of the genetic markers and autoantibodies increased the positive predictive values of all autoantibodies substantially, which may have clinical implications when evaluating the risk of developing type 1 diabetes at the individual level or when recruiting high-risk individuals for intervention trials. However, because such combinations also resulted in reduced sensitivity, autoantibodies alone rather than in combination with genetic markers are recommended as the first-line screening in siblings. Finally, not all siblings with a broad humoral autoimmune response or high-risk genetic markers present with type 1 diabetes, while some with a low genetic risk and weak initial signs of humoral autoimmunity may progress to disease.
    Diabetes 01/2000; 49(1):48-58. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Diabetes-associated autoantibodies in relation to clinical characteristics and natural course in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. The Childhood Diabetes In Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We analyzed 747 children, younger than 15 yr of age, with newly diagnosed diabetes, for antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), the IA-2 protein (IA-2A), insulin (IAA), and islet cells, to evaluate the influence of positivity for GADA, IA-2A, IAA, or multiple (> or = 3) autoantibodies at diagnosis, on the clinical presentation and natural course of the disease over the first 2 yr and to characterize autoantibody-negative patients. At diagnosis, 73.2% of the children tested positive for GADA, 85.7% for IA-2A, 54.2% for IAA, and 72.6% for multiple autoantibodies. Only 17 subjects (2.3%) had no detectable autoantibodies. The patients testing positive for multiple autoantibodies were younger than the remaining children (P < 0.001). A similar age difference was seen when comparing IAA-positive and -negative patients (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the GADA-positive and -negative subjects in the degree of metabolic decompensation at diagnosis, whereas those testing positive for IA-2A had reduced serum C-peptide concentrations (P = 0.003), and those positive for IAA had lower glycated hemoglobin values. The patients with no detectable autoantibodies had higher serum C-peptide levels (P = 0.007) at diagnosis than did the other subjects. The children initially positive for IA-2A had decreased serum C-peptide concentrations at 24 months (P = 0.045), and their daily insulin dose was higher at 18 (P = 0.005) and 24 months (P < 0.001). The patients who tested positive for multiple autoantibodies at diagnosis had decreased serum C-peptide levels (P < 0.001) and higher insulin doses (P = 0.005) at 12, 18, and 24 months. A lower proportion of them were also in clinical remission at 12 and 18 months (P = 0.01). Autoantibody-negative subjects needed less exogenous insulin at 6 and 18 (P = 0.01) and at 24 months (P < 0.001) than the other subjects, and a higher proportion of them were in clinical remission at 18 months (P < 0.001). We conclude that positivity for multiple diabetes-related autoantibodies is associated with accelerated beta-cell destruction and an increased requirement for exogenous insulin over the second year of clinical disease, indicating that multiple autoantibodies reflect an aggressive progression to total beta-cell destruction. Patients testing negative for diabetes-associated autoantibodies at diagnosis seem to have a milder degree of beta-cell destruction, but their metabolic decompensation is similar to that seen in other affected children, suggesting that they do represent classical type 1 diabetes.
    Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp Metabolism 05/1999; 84(5):1534-9. · 6.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: Disease-associated autoantibodies and HLA-DQB1 genotypes in children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The possible relation between HLA-DQ genotypes and both frequencies and levels of autoantibodies associated with IDDM was assessed by examining HLA-DQB1 alleles and antibodies to islet cells (ICA), insulin (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase-related IA-2 molecule (IA-2A) in 631 newly diagnosed diabetic children under the age of 15 years. ICA were found in 530 children (84.0%), while close to half of the subjects (n = 307; 48.7%) tested positive for IAA. GADA were detected in 461 index cases (73.1%), with a higher frequency in those older than 10 years (78.9% versus 69.2% in the younger ones; P = 0.006). More than 85% of the children (n = 541; 85.7%) tested positive for IA-2A. Altogether there were only 11 children (1.7%) who had no detectable autoantibodies at diagnosis. There were no differences in the prevalence of ICA or GADA between four groups formed according to their HLA-DQB1 genotype (DQB1*0302/02, *0302/X (X = other than *02), *02/Y (Y = other than *0302) and other DQB1 genotypes). The children with the *0302/X genotype had a higher frequency of IA-2A and IAA than those carrying the *02/Y genotype (93.8% versus 67.3%, P < 0.001; and 49.0% versus 33.6%, P = 0.002, respectively). The children with the *02/Y genotype had the highest GADA levels (median 36.2 relative units (RU) versus 14.9 RU in those with *0302/X; P = 0.005). Serum levels of IA-2A and IAA were increased among subjects carrying the *0302/X genotype (median 76.1 RU versus 1.6 RU, P = 0.001; and 50 nU/ml versus 36 nU/ml, P = 0.004) compared with those positive for *02/Y. Only three out of 11 subjects homozygous for *02 (27.3%) tested positive for IA-2A, and they had particularly low IA-2A (median 0.23 RU versus 47.6 RU in the other subjects; P < 0.001). The distribution of HLA-DQB1 genotypes among autoantibody-negative children was similar to that in the other patients. These results show that DQB1*0302, the most important single IDDM susceptibility allele, is associated with a strong antibody response to IA-2 and insulin, while GAD-specific humoral autoimmunity is linked to the *02 allele, in common with a series of other autoimmune diseases as well as IDDM. We suggest that IA-2A may represent beta cell-specific autoimmunity, while GADA may represent a propensity to general autoimmunity.
    Clinical & Experimental Immunology 04/1999; 116(1):78-83. · 3.36 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Islet cell antibodies are less predictive of IDDM among unaffected children in the general population than in sibs of children with diabetes. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    M Knip, J Karjalainen, H K Akerblom
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To examine the controversial issue of whether islet cell antibodies (ICAs) have a higher predictive value for progression to clinical IDDM in first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes than in the general population. ICAs were analyzed with standard immunofluorescence in two population-based groups: 765 sibs of children with recent-onset diabetes and 1,212 unaffected Finnish children <20 years of age at initial screening. Those positive for ICAs were additionally tested for antibodies to GAD (GADAs) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase-related IA-2 antigen (IA-2As). Subsequently, these subjects were observed for the manifestation of clinical IDDM over the next 7 years. The frequency of both detectable ICAs and ICA levels > or =20 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units (JDF U) was significantly higher among the sibs than in the general population (7.8 vs. 4.1% and 4.8 vs. 2.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). The prevalence of GADAs (37/60 vs. 3/48; P < 0.001) and IA-2As (31/60 vs. 0/48; P < 0.001) was increased among ICA-positive sibs compared with ICA-positive individuals from the background population. Over the next 7 years, 24 sibs (3.1%) and 3 unrelated children positive for ICAs (0.3%) progressed to clinical diabetes. The positive predictive value of ICAs was thus 6% in the general population and 40% among the sibs (P < 0.001), or 13 and 59%, respectively (P < 0.001), with an antibody cutoff level of 20 JDF U. The positive predictive value was related to the number of positive autoantibodies in sibs, which was 57% in those with three antibodies, 50% in those with two antibodies, and only 6% in those with ICAs alone. These data show that the frequency of multiple autoantibodies is substantially lower in ICA-positive children representing the general population than in ICA-positive sibs of children with IDDM. As a consequence, the predictive value of ICAs for IDDM is higher in sibs of affected children than in the general population. This finding must be taken into account when planning intervention trials aimed at preventing or delaying the manifestation of clinical diabetes in individuals from the general population who test positive for ICAs.
    Diabetes Care 10/1998; 21(10):1670-3. · 8.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: IA-2 antibodies--a sensitive marker of IDDM with clinical onset in childhood and adolescence. Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To study the relationship of IA-2 antibodies (IA-2A) to other autoantibodies and genetic risk markers in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), 758 children and adolescents younger than 15 years of age (mean age 8.4 years) with newly diagnosed diabetes were analysed for IA-2A, GAD antibodies (GADA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) with radiobinding assays, for islet cell antibodies (ICA) with immunofluorescence and for HLA DR alleles by serology. IA-2A were detected in 85.9% of cases with no association with gender or age. An overwhelming majority of the patients (71.3%) tested positive for three or more antibodies, and 90.7% for at least two. Fifty-four subjects (7.1%) had one antibody detectable, whereas only 2.1% of the patients tested negative for all four. A higher proportion of patients was positive for IA-2A and/or GADA than for ICA alone (95.5 vs 84.2%, p < 0.001). The prevalence and level of IA-2A were increased in cases carrying HLA DR4/non-DR3 compared with other DR combinations. The results indicate that almost all patients with newly diagnosed childhood IDDM can be identified by screening with these four autoantibodies. The combination of IA-2A and/or GADA had a higher sensitivity for IDDM than ICA alone. The close association between IA-2A and HLA DR4, the strongest single allele predisposing to IDDM, suggests that IA-2A may be a more specific marker of beta-cell destruction than GADA, which have been shown to associate with the DR3 allele and thyroid autoimmunity.
    Diabetologia 05/1998; 41(4):424-9. · 6.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: IA-2 antibodies – a sensitive marker of IDDM with clinical onset in childhood and adolescence
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To study the relationship of IA-2 antibodies (IA-2A) to other autoantibodies and genetic risk markers in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), 758 children and adolescents younger than 15 years of age (mean age 8.4 years) with newly diagnosed diabetes were analysed for IA-2A, GAD antibodies (GADA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) with radiobinding assays, for islet cell antibodies (ICA) with immunofluorescence and for HLA DR alleles by serology. IA-2A were detected in 85.9 % of cases with no association with gender or age. An overwhelming majority of the patients (71.3 %) tested positive for three or more antibodies, and 90.7 % for at least two. Fifty-four subjects (7.1 %) had one antibody detectable, whereas only 2.1 % of the patients tested negative for all four. A higher proportion of patients was positive for IA-2A and/or GADA than for ICA alone (95.5 vs 84.2 %, p < 0.001). The prevalence and level of IA-2A were increased in cases carrying HLA DR4/non-DR3 compared with other DR combinations. The results indicate that almost all patients with newly diagnosed childhood IDDM can be identified by screening with these four autoantibodies. The combination of IA-2A and/or GADA had a higher sensitivity for IDDM than ICA alone. The close association between IA-2A and HLA DR4, the strongest single allele predisposing to IDDM, suggests that IA-2A may be a more specific marker of beta-cell destruction than GADA, which have been shown to associate with the DR3 allele and thyroid autoimmunity. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 424–429]
    Diabetologia 04/1998; 41(4):424-429. · 6.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prediction of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in siblings of children with diabetes. A population-based study. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: An unselected population of 755 siblings of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) was studied to evaluate the predictive characteristics of islet cell antibodies (ICA), antibodies to the IA-2 protein (IA-2A), antibodies to the 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA), and combinations of these markers. We also evaluated whether the histochemical ICA test could be replaced by the combined detection of other markers. 32 siblings progressed to IDDM within 7.7 yr of the initial sample taken at or close to the diagnosis of the index case (median follow-up, 9.1 yr). The positive predictive values of ICA, IA-2A, GADA, and IAA were 43, 55, 42, and 29%, and their sensitivities 81, 69, 69, and 25%, respectively. In contrast to the other three antibody specificities, GADA levels were not related to the risk for IDDM. The risk for IDDM in siblings with four, three, two, one, or no antibodies was 40, 70, 25, 2, and 0.8%, respectively. Combined screening for IA-2A and GADA identified 70% of all ICA-positive siblings, and all of the ICA-positive progressors were also positive for at least one of the three other markers. The sensitivity of the combined analysis of IA-2A and GADA was 81%, and the positive predictive value was 41%. In conclusion, combined screening for IA-2A and GADA may replace the ICA assay, giving comparable sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Accurate assessment of the risk for IDDM in siblings is complicated, as not even all those with four antibody specificities contract the disease, and some with only one or no antibodies initially will progress to IDDM.
    Journal of Clinical Investigation 02/1998; 101(2):327-36. · 15.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Poor beta-cell function after the clinical manifestation of type 1 diabetes in children initially positive for islet cell specific autoantibodies. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The prognostic significance of islet cell specific autoantibodies at the diagnosis of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus for the persistence of residual beta-cell function over the first 2 years of clinical disease was evaluated in a prospective population-based study. Seven hundred and eighty probands, aged 0.8-14.9 years, were examined for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA), while 769 probands were studied for antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65A). They were subsequently observed for 2 years. Lower serum C-peptide concentrations and higher requirement of exogenous insulin during the follow-up period were observed in the group of probands positive for at least one of the antibodies, especially for ICA or IAA. We conclude that the residual beta-cell function after the presentation of Type 1 diabetes is less in children initially positive for islet cell specific autoantibodies than in those testing negative at diagnosis. This might reflect possible heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of childhood diabetes. It also demonstrates that ICA and IAA negativity at the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is not associated with a smaller amount of functioning beta-cell mass, but the absence of antibodies probably reflects a slower beta-cell destructive process and a longer duration of preclinical disease.
    Diabetic Medicine 08/1997; 14(7):532-7. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Relationship between the incidence of childhood IDDM and the frequency of ICA positivity in nondiabetic children in the general population.
    Diabetes Care 01/1997; 19(12):1452-4. · 8.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Islet cell-specific autoantibodies in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and their siblings at clinical manifestation of the disease. Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to characterize both newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and their siblings with positive tests for islet cell-specific autoantibodies (ICSAA) and to evaluate whether there is an association between the ICSAA levels detected in the diabetic children and siblings. We analysed 781 probands younger than 15 years of age for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and 755 for insulin autoantibodies (IAA) and 610 of their 3-19-year-old non-diabetic siblings for ICA and IAA upon diagnosis of the proband. Islet cell antibodies were observed in 657 of the probands (84.1%) and IAA in 353 (46.8%). The ICA-positive probands were younger in age and had higher IAA levels than the ICA-negative probands, while the IAA-positive probands were younger and had higher levels of ICA than the IAA-negative probands. Islet cell antibodies were detected in 46 (7.5%) and IAA in 16 (2.6%) siblings, and the ICA-positive siblings had higher IAA levels than the ICA-negative siblings. A falling trend was seen in the frequency of ICA > or = 20 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units in the siblings with decreasing degrees of HLA identity with the index case. Infections during the preceding year, especially respiratory infections, increased the prevalence of both ICA and IAA in the diabetic children at diagnosis and the frequency of IAA in the siblings. There was a significant, although weak, correlation between the IAA levels of the probands and those of their siblings when 594 pairs were tested (r(s) = 0.15; p < 0.001). No association could be seen between the ICA levels of the probands and those of their siblings, not even when including only HLA-identical proband-sib pairs in the analysis. The lack of any relation between ICA levels in the probands and siblings supports the view that there may be multiple exogenous factors capable of inducing ICA formation or else a common factor but variable responsiveness in the index case and the sibling.
    European Journal of Endocrinology 12/1996; 135(6):689-95. · 3.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Islet cell autoimmunity and progression to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in genetically high- and low-risk siblings of diabetic children. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland (DiMe) Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) risk was evaluated in 765 siblings based on prospective observation of islet cell antibodies (ICAs) and insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) as a function of the degree of HLA identity to the proband and HLA-DR alleles. Twenty-eight (3.7%) siblings progressed to IDDM over a median observation period of 5.8 years. ICAs had higher sensitivity than IAAS (100% vs. 33% , P < 0.001), whereas persistent ICA positivity and double ICA/IAA positivity defined the highest actuarial risk (47% and 70%). Diabetes manifested after a mean of 3.2 years from the detection of ICAs in those siblings who were initially ICA negative and, importantly, the risk was equal to that of the siblings constantly positive from the first sample obtained. Although the combination of HLA identity and ICAs at or above 80 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units carried the highest positive predictive value (77%), the high-risk HLA markers were insufficient to predispose siblings with low ICA levels to IDDM and low-risk HLA markers did not provide complete protection against high ICA levels and from subsequent IDDM. These results emphasize ICAs as the primary tool for risk evaluation in siblings followed by restricted HLA subtyping to reduce the population to be subjected to clinical intervention trials.
    European Journal of Clinical Investigation 08/1996; 26(8):640-9. · 3.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in relation to other autoantibodies and genetic risk markers in children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes. Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To study the frequency of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65A) at the diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and to evaluate the relation of these antibodies to other IDDM-associated autoantibodies and genetic risk markers of the disease, we analyzed 747 newly diagnosed diabetic children younger than 15 yr of age (mean, 8.4 yr) for GAD65A, islet cell antibodies, insulin autoantibodies, and human leukocyte antigen DR alleles. GAD65A were detected in 73.2% of the children, with a higher frequency in females than in males (77.1% vs. 70.1%; P = 0.04) and in index cases aged 10 yr or older than in younger children (79.0% vs. 68.7%; P = 0.004). The index cases positive for GAD65A had higher levels of islet cell antibodies (median, 40 vs. 34 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units; P = 0.003) and insulin autoantibodies (median, 55 vs. 43 nU/mL; P = 0.03) than those testing negative for GAD65A. Human leukocyte antigen DR3/non-DR4 children had the highest GAD65A levels, whereas DR2-positive cases had levels of GAD65A similar to those found in other subjects. One third of the index cases (33.9%) tested positive for all three autoantibodies, 43.1% for two antibodies, and 18.2% for one antibody, whereas 4.8% were triple negative. The females had multiple antibodies (at least two antibodies) more often than the males (81.3% vs. 73.5%; P = 0.01). There was a significant trend for a higher frequency of multiple antibodies in young children (83.0% in those under 5 yr and 73.2% in those 10 yr or older; P = 0.02) and a higher frequency in DR3/4 heterozygous children than in those with DR3/non-DR4 (83.3% vs. 63.2%; P = 0.02). The results show that GAD65A antibodies are more frequent in girls and adolescents with newly diagnosed IDDM and suggest that DR3/non-DR4 subjects have increased GAD65A levels. Multiple antibodies in diabetic children are associated with young age, female sex, and DR3/4 heterozygosity.
    Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp Metabolism 08/1996; 81(7):2455-9. · 6.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: Relation between antibodies to islet cell antigens, other autoantigens and cow's milk proteins in diabetic children and unaffected siblings at the clinical manifestation of IDDM. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The relation between islet cell specific antibodies, other autoantibodies and antibodies to cow's milk proteins was studied in IDDM and pre-IDDM by analysing islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA), anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-reticulin class IgA [ARA(IgA)], smooth muscle, anti-mitochondria, parietal cell (PCA), adrenal and thyroid antibodies and antibodies to cow's milk formula (CMF), beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a population based study with more than 650 children with newly diagnosed IDDM and more than 550 initially non-diabetic siblings. After adjustment for age a weak association was seen in the diabetic children between IAA and ANA but none between ICA and autoantibodies directed against the other organ-specific or non-organ-specific antigens. There was no significant difference in cow's milk antibodies between diabetic children with and without ICA or IAA. The siblings with ICA had higher CMF (IgA and IgM) antibody levels and BLG (IgA) antibody levels than the remaining siblings, but no such differences were found when comparing IAA-positive and negative siblings. Siblings positive for ICA had PCA more often than did the ICA-negative siblings, whereas siblings positive for both ICA and PCA had increased levels of antibodies against CMF, BLG and BSA. These findings indicate that the humoral islet cell-associated autoimmunity characteristic of recent-onset childhood IDDM is clearly restricted to the islet cells and not directly related to signs of other organ-specific or non-organ-specific autoimmunity. The observation of increased levels of antibodies to cow's milk proteins in siblings positive for ICA suggests that the immune response to cow's milk proteins may be related to the progressive autoimmune process resulting in beta-cell destruction and ultimately in the clinical manifestation of IDDM. Gastrointestinal autoimmune mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of IDDM, and the association observed between combined ICA and PCA positivity and increased levels of antibodies to cow's milk proteins in the siblings implies that there may be an enhanced transfer of nutritional antigens across the gut barrier in these subjects.
    Autoimmunity 02/1996; 23(3):165-74. · 2.47 Impact Factor
  • Article: Antibodies against bovine albumin and other diabetes markers in French children.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Findings in epidemiology and animal experimentation suggest that autoimmunity in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) may be triggered by dietary cow-milk protein, particularly bovine serum albumin (BSA). Elevated IgG anti-BSA antibodies were found in children from Finland with newly onset diabetes; Finland has the highest incidence of diabetes and cow's milk consumption in the world. We now analyze BSA serology and other diabetes markers in school-age children from France, where diabetes incidence and cow's milk consumption are low. Sera were obtained from three groups: newly diagnosed diabetic (n = 43), islet cell antibody-positive (ICA+) nondiabetic (n = 98), and ICA- healthy control children (n = 267). IgG anti-BSA antibody levels were measured blindly using particle concentration fluoroimmunoassays and analyzed in comparison with ICA titers and human leukocyte antigen-DQB genotypes. There were highly significant differences in BSA antibody levels between all three groups (P < 0.0001). Diabetic patients had elevated anti-BSA levels in 74.4% of cases, compared with 5.5% of control children. In the group of ICA+ non-diabetic children, 20% were anti-BSA-positive. Neither ICA nor BSA antibody titers were significantly related to DQB genotype or sex. ICA titers ( > or = 4 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units) were present in 84% of diabetic children. Two-thirds of diabetic children were positive for both ICA and anti-BSA antibodies, and none were negative for both markers. Elevated IgG anti-BSA levels are associated with IDDM in the low-incidence French population. In newly diagnosed diabetic children, these antibodies have similar specificity (95 vs. 98%) and slightly lower sensitivity for IDDM than ICA (74.4 vs. 83.7%). Our results may support an immunological role of BSA in diabetic autoimmunity.
    Diabetes Care 09/1995; 18(8):1089-94. · 8.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: A prospective study of the role of coxsackie B and other enterovirus infections in the pathogenesis of IDDM. Childhood Diabetes in Finland (DiMe) Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Coxsackievirus B infections have been associated with clinical manifestation of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in several studies, but their initiating role in the slowly progressing beta-cell damage is not known. This is the first prospective study designed to assess the role of coxsackie B and other enterovirus infections in the induction and acceleration of this process. Three separate series were studied: 1) an intrauterine exposure series comprising 96 pregnant mothers whose children subsequently manifested IDDM and 96 control mothers whose children remained nondiabetic; 2) a cohort of 22 initially unaffected siblings of diabetic children who were followed until they developed clinical IDDM (mean observation time, 29 months) and 110 control siblings who remained nondiabetic; 3) a case-control series comprising 90 children with newly diagnosed IDDM and 90 control subjects. Enterovirus infections were identified on the basis of significant increases in serum IgG, IgM, or IgA class antibodies against a panel of enterovirus antigens (capture radioimmunoassay). Enterovirus antibodies were significantly elevated in pregnant mothers whose children subsequently manifested IDDM, particularly in cases in which IDDM appeared at a very young age, before the age of 3 years (P < 0.005). Serologically verified enterovirus infections were almost two times more frequent in siblings who developed clinical IDDM than in siblings who remained nondiabetic (mean, 1.0 vs. 0.6 infections/follow-up year; P < 0.001). This difference was seen both close to the diagnosis of IDDM and several years before diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Diabetes 06/1995; 44(6):652-7. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Serological evaluation of the role of cytomegalovirus in the pathogenesis of IDDM: a prospective study. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To study the possible temporal association between primary cytomegalovirus infection and the appearance of islet cell autoantibodies or the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) cytomegalovirus antibodies were analysed from follow-up sera of 46 initially non-diabetic siblings of diabetic children who either manifested clinical IDDM (22 siblings) or turned islet cell antibody positive (24 siblings) during the prospective observation (mean follow-up time 2.9 years). Secondly, cytomegalovirus antibodies were analysed during pregnancy in 96 mothers whose child presented with IDDM before the age of 7 years and in 96 control mothers who gave birth to a non-diabetic child. Thirdly, a case-control series including 90 newly-diagnosed young children with IDDM and their 90 control subjects was analysed. No seroconversions were found in cytomegalovirus antibodies during the follow-up of the 46 siblings indicating no temporal association with islet cell antibody seroconversion or manifestation of clinical diabetes. During the follow-up 17 (37%) siblings were constantly seronegative and 29 (63%) seropositive for cytomegalovirus IgG and there was no difference between islet cell antibody positive and negative siblings. Cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM were not different in pregnant mothers who gave birth to a subsequently diabetic child compared to control mothers, or in newly-diagnosed diabetic children compared to control children. Cytomegalovirus IgA was higher in newly-diagnosed diabetic children than in control children (p < 0.005). This difference disappeared when only cytomegalovirus IgG positive individuals were analysed. No correlation was found between islet cell antibodies and cytomegalovirus antibodies in newly-diagnosed diabetic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Diabetologia 06/1995; 38(6):705-10. · 6.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: Serological evaluation of the role of cytomegalovirus in the pathogenesis of IDDM: a prospective study
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To study the possible temporal association between primary cytomegalovirus infection and the appearance of islet cell autoantibodies or the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) cytomegalovirus antibodies were analysed from follow-up sera of 46 initially non-diabetic siblings of diabetic children who either manifested clinical IDDM (22 siblings) or turned islet cell antibody positive (24 siblings) during the prospective observation (mean follow-up time 2.9 years). Secondly, cytomegalovirus antibodies were analysed during pregnancy in 96 mothers whose child presented with IDDM before the age of 7 years and in 96 control mothers who gave birth to a non-diabetic child. Thirdly, a case-control series including 90 newly-diagnosed young children with IDDM and their 90 control subjects was analysed. No seroconversions were found in cytomegalovirus antibodies during the follow-up of the 46 siblings indicating no temporal association with islet cell antibody seroconversion or manifestation of clinical diabetes. During the follow-up 17 (37%) siblings were constantly seronegative and 29 (63%) seropositive for cytomegalovirus IgG and there was no difference between islet cell antibody positive and negative siblings. Cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM were not different in pregnant mothers who gave birth to a subsequently diabetic child compared to control mothers, or in newly-diagnosed diabetic children compared to control children. Cytomegalovirus IgA was higher in newly-diagnosed diabetic children than in control children (p<0.005). This difference disappeared when only cytomegalovirus IgG positive individuals were analysed. No correlation was found between islet cell antibodies and cytomegalovirus antibodies in newly-diagnosed diabetic patients. The results do not support the hypothesis that primary cytomegalovirus infections could initiate the cascade leading to autoimmune destruction of the beta cells.
    Diabetologia 04/1995; 38(6):705-710. · 6.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: T cells from children with IDDM are sensitized to bovine serum albumin.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggested that denial of dietary cow milk protein early in life protects genetically susceptible children and animals from insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was proposed as a candidate milk-borne mimicry antigen responsible for the diabetogenic cow milk effect. Elevated anti-BSA antibodies have been observed in patients and diabetic rodents, and these antibodies precipitate p69 from islet cell lysates. IDDM is a T cell mediated disorder but efforts to detect BSA-specific T cells in diabetic children have so far failed. We describe here a culture system which allowed the detection of BSA-specific T cells and we mapped this response to the ABBOS peptide (pre-BSA position 152-169) previously identified as a possible mimicry epitope. ABBOS-sensitized T cells were found in 28/31 children with recent onset IDDM but not in non-diabetic controls nor in children with SLE or JRA. T cell proliferative responses declined within the first few years of diabetes diagnosis. Although no effector cell role for BSA/ABBOS specific T lymphocytes has been demonstrated, the presence of BSA peptide-specific T cells strengthens the postulated link between a cow milk protein and IDDM.
    Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 01/1995; 40(6):623-8. · 2.23 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 1987–2008
    • University of Oulu
      • Department of Paediatrics
      Oulu, Oulu, Finland
  • 1995–2001
    • University of Tampere
      • • Medical School
      • • Department of Biomedical Sciences
      Tampere, Western Finland, Finland
    • Hôpital universitaire Robert-Debré
      Paris, Ile-de-France, France
  • 1997
    • Kuopion Yliopistollinen Sairaala
      Kuopio, Province of Eastern Finland, Finland
  • 1992–1995
    • SickKids
      Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • University of Toronto
      • Hospital for Sick Children
      Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • 1994
    • University of Helsinki
      • Department of Pediatrics
      Helsinki, Province of Southern Finland, Finland
    • University of Turku
      • Department of Virology
      Turku, Western Finland, Finland