Pancreatic islet cells in tissue culture: function and immunoreactivity with serum autoantibodies from diabetes type-1 patients and monoclonal antibodies ICA-1.

The purpose of this study was the generation of monoclonal antibodies (MoAB) ICA-1 to p64 antigen of pancreatic beta cells and the comparative analysis of MoAB and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients' serum reactivity with cultivated islet cells. It was found that MoAB ICA-1 reacted with the surface of beta cells in suspension but with cytoplasm in frozen pancreatic sections. That MoAB ICA-1 and ICSA- or ICA-positive IDDM serum on insulin release in islet cell cultures produce similar effects was established. These results were obtained from in vivo injection of MoAB into rats and resulted in serum insulin decrease, increase of glucose concentration and morphological changes in pancreas corresponding to IDDM, which testified to the biological role of p64 antigen in pathogenesis of IDDM.