HLA antigens and immunoresponsiveness to insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

HLA-A and B antigens were determined in 112 patient with insulin-dependent juvenile onset diabetes mellitus, who could be subdivided into “non” and “high responders” to insulin. The data revealed a trend of an association of these diabetes subgroups with only one of the diabetes-associated antigens HLA-B8 and HLA-BW15 and indicated the existence of at least two different genetic constellations for susceptibility to juvenile diabetes mellitus. One form with a strong immune-response to insulin seemed to be associated with HLA-BW 15 and the other form without humoral immunoreactivity to insulin seemed to be associated with the presence of HLA-B8 and the absence of HLA-B7.