Cloning and Expression of IDDM-Specific Human Autoantigens

A DNA cloning approach was taken to identify islet cell protein antigens that are recognized specifically by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) sera. A human islet cDNA library was generated and screened with diabetic sera. In this article, identification of two clones is described. Proteins expressed by these lambda phages appeared to react specifically with newly diagnosed diabetic sera. Islet cell antibody 12 (ICA12) was tested by Western blotting. ICA512 was not reactive with sera in the Western format but was specifically immunoprecipitated by diabetic sera from an Escherichia coli extract.