A bovine albumin peptide as a possible trigger of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

• DOI: 10.1007/bf03347751
• Publication Date: 2014-04-04T10:45:17Z
• Authors: J. Karjalainen; J. M. Martin; M. Knip; J. Ilonen; B. H. Robinson; E. Savilahti; H. K. Åkerblom; H. M. Dosch; Jill Norris; Massimo Pietropaolo
• Keywords: Bovine serum albumin; C-peptide; Insulin dependent diabetes

Abstract Background. Cow's milk has been implicated as a possible trigger of the autoimmune response that destroys pancreatic beta cells in genetically susceptible hosts, thus causing diabetes mellitus. Studies in animals have suggested that bovine serum albumin (BSA) is the milk protein responsible, and an albumin peptide containing 17 amino acids (ABBOS) may be the reactive epitope. Antibodies to this peptide react with p69, a beta-cell surface protein that may represent the target antigen for milk-induced beta-cell—specific immunity. Methods. We used immunoassays and Western blot analysis to analyze anti-BSA antibodies in the serum of 142 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 79 healthy children, and 300 adult blood donors. Anti-ABBOS antibodies were measured in 44 diabetic patients at the time of diagnosis, three to four months later, and one to two years later. Results. All the diabetic patients had elevated serum concentrations of IgG anti-BSA antibodies (but not of antibodies to other ...