Summary:
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is considered an autoimmune disease. The immune response is targeted on
autoantigens of B-cells of the islets of Langerhans. The most important autoantigens are glutamic acid decarboxylase,
protein tyrosine phosphatase and insulin. Despite the fact that their role in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus is not clear, they are used in diagnosis and can identify subjects at high risk for the development
of the disease.
Key words:
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, autoantibodies, glutamate decarboxylase,
tyrosine phosphatase.
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