A new model defines the minimal set of polymorphism in HLA-DQ and -DR that determines susceptibility and resistance to autoimmune diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanism underlying autoimmune diabetes has been difficult to define. There is a strong genetic contribution and numerous studies associate the major histocompatibility complex, especially the class II region, with predisposition or resistance. However, how these molecules are implicated remains obscure.

Presentation of the hypothesis

We have supplemented structural analysis with computational biophysical and sequence analyses and propose an heuristic for distinguishing between human leukocyte antigen molecules that predispose to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and those that are protective. Polar residues at both beta37 and beta9 suffice to distinguish accurately between class II alleles that predispose to type 1 diabetes and those that do not. The elect

SUBMITTER: Parry CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2590596 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature