Antibodies to viruses and to pancreatic islets in nondiabetic and insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Autoimmunity is frequently involved in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes, and viral infections have been implicated in some cases. We have investigated the possibility that islet cells and viruses share antigenic determinants with the result that antiviral antibodies would cross-react with islet cells. Antibody titers to Coxsackie B2, B3, B4, and B5, Influenza A and B, and mumps viruses were compared with islet cell antibody (ICA) titers in newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic patients and in some diabetic patients followed prospectively for 1 yr postdiagnosis. Nondiabetic patients, with culture-proven Coxsackie B4 infections and large rises in Coxsackie B4 antibody titers, were evaluated for islet cell antibodies. No relationship between ICA and viral antibody titers was found either in diabetic or nondiabetic patients. We conclude that it is unlikely that islet cells and the viruses tested share antigenic determinants and other mechanisms relating viral infection and autoimmunity in insulin-dependent diabetes must be sought.