Insulin immunology: humoral and cellular aspects in mono-component insulin treated patients.

A study on humoral and cellular immune response to monocomponent (MC) insulin is reported. Humoral insulin antibody did not reach detectable levels in 80% of patients studied. Two out of six patients in whom a detectable antibody response was found had bovine species specific antibody suggesting some contamination of the insulin preparation used. No evidence for lymphocyte transformation with MC insulin was observed in the patients treated. B component resulted in transformation in patients treated with non-MC insulins. Zinc acted as a stimulant to lymphocyte transformation in the control group. The significance of the observations is discussed.