Inhibition of diamine oxidase promotes uptake of putrescine from rat small intestine

In blood from the portal vein of anaesthetized rats the levels of histamine and putrescine were 2-3-fold lower compared to arterial blood. Putrescine concentration was increased severalfold and the difference between portal and arterial blood abolished in animals pretreated with the specific diamine oxidase inhibitor aminoguanidine. Histamine concentration was 40% lower in portal compared to arterial blood in animals treated with the mast cell degranulator compound 48/80. In animals pretreated with aminoguanidine, compound 48/80 enhanced the level of histamine and no difference was observed between arterial and portal blood. The amounts of intravenously injected [14C]-labeled histamine was about 15% lower in portal compared to arterial blood. The uptake of [14C]-putrescine from the small intestine was estimated. In urine from animals pretreated with aminoguanidine the concentration of [14C]-putrescine was more than 40-times higher than in control animals corresponding to a calculated uptake of about 7% in aminoguanidine treated animals. Our results suggest that intestinal diamine oxidase clears the blood from diamines and prevents luminal uptake of putrescine.

A comparison of three statistical models for IDDM associations with HLA

The association between HLA-DQ haplotypes and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) was studied in 48 children from 44 families ascertained from the high incidence area around Umeå, Sweden. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain associations between HLA and IDDM, but comparisons of statistical models based on these hypotheses have not been attempted. The aim of the present study was to compare the goodness-of-fit and predictive abilities among different statistical models. A likelihood-based analysis rather than a conventional analysis based on contingency tables was therefore adopted. We first used parental haplotype information in a conditional likelihood analysis (1) and then compared this analysis with that of an unaffected control group which used information on geographically matched controls. Under the analysis conditional on parental haplotype, a statistical model motivated by the hypothesis that the entire DQ heterodimer is involved in IDDM pathogenesis fit the data significantly better and had greater predictive ability than either a model motivated by the explanation that an IDDM gene is linked to DQB1 or that the DQB1 chain itself is involved in IDDM pathogenesis, or a model arising from the hypothesis that single amino acids at codon 57 of DQB1 and codon 52 of DQA1, respectively, confer susceptibility. Under the case-control analysis, the identity of the best-fitting or more predictive statistical model was not as clear, although both approaches to analyzing risk suggested that the single-amino-acids model had significantly poorer fit compared to the remaining two models.

Genetic and immunological findings in patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Swedish Childhood Diabetes Study Group and The Diabetes Incidence in Sweden Study (DISS) Group

Two large population-based case-control studies are reviewed. The aim is to determine the effects of HLA, other genetic factors and immune markers (ICA, IAA and GAD65Ab) on the age at onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in 0-34 year olds. The primary HLA risk gene sequence for IDDM was difficult to identify because of the low recombination frequency within the HLA region. The frequency of the DR3-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 haplotype and the DR3-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (DQ2)/DR4-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (DQ8) genotype were higher among patients diagnosed before the age of 10 compared with those diagnosed after the age of 30. The negatively associated haplotype, DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 was absent before the age of 10, but the frequency increased with increasing age at onset. The IDDM2 gene representing the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences and 5' of the insulin gene on chromosome 11 were associated with IDDM since homozygous short VNTR was positive but not homozygous, and heterozygous long VNTR was negatively associated with the disease. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of GAD65 (GA65Ab) and insulin (IAA) autoantibodies varied with the age at onset and gender. GAD65Ab had the highest sensitivity (> 80%) in patients older than 20 years of age with no difference in gender. The lowest sensitivity (54%) was in 0-10 year old boys, while age did not affect the sensitivity in girls. In contrast, the sensitivity of IAA was highest (46%) before the age of 15 but decreased thereafter as did the sensitivity for ICA. Classification of patients who develop IDDM above 20-25 years of age was inadequate since many patients classified with NIDDM either had GAD65Ab or ICA or developed these antibodies after 1-2 years of NIDDM. We conclude that not only age but also gender affect the risk for IDDM associated with HLA, other IDDM genes as well as commonly used immunological markers for IDDM.

DR4 subtypes and their molecular properties in a population-based study of Swedish childhood diabetes

The aim of this study was to determine the association between childhood insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and HLA-DR4 subtypes and to test in a population-based investigation whether the DR4 association has an effect independent to that of DQ. First, HLA genotyping identified DR4 in 337/425 (79%) patients and 148/367 (40%) controls (Odds Ratio 5.67; p < 0.01). Second, a total of 14 DR4 subtypes were detected by PCR and sequence specific oligo probes. Only two DR4 subtypes, DRB1*0401 (62% patients and 25% controls; OR 4.95, p < 0.01) and *0404 (16% patients and 10% controls; OR 1.67, p < 0.05) were however positively associated with the disease. These two subtypes were positively associated only when linked to DQB1*0302-DQA1*0301 (DQ8) (56% patients and 14% controls; OR 7.69, p < 0.01; 15% patients and 10% controls; OR 1.55, p < 0.05, respectively). When DRB1*0401 was linked to DQB1*0301-DQA1*0301 (DQ7) (6% patients and 11% controls; OR 0.52, p < 0.05), this DR4 subtypes was negatively associated with IDDM. Third, tests of strongest association allowed the following ranking of alleles or haplotypes DQB1*0302-DQA1*0301 (DQ8) > DQB1*0302 > DRB1*0401 > DRB1*0404 and the association of DRB1*0401 has a significant effect in DQ8 positive IDDM patients. We conclude that the DR4 association with IDDM is secondary to DQ by linkage disequilibrium, which support the role of HLA-DQ as a primary genetic risk factor for IDDM.

Polymorphic amino acid domains of the HLA-DQ molecule are associated with disease heterogeneity in myasthenia gravis

The association between myasthenia gravis (MG) and polymorphic amino acid domains in the HLA-DQ molecule was studied in 79 Swedish patients and 155 unrelated, population-based controls. A domain unique for DQB1*0201 was positively associated in MG patients with thymic hyperplasia or an early disease onset, and two domains with residues common to DQA1*01 alleles or DQB1*05 and DQB1*06 alleles were negatively associated in patients with thymic hyperplasia or an early disease onset. Our results suggest that MG associated with thymic hyperplasia and thymoma differ in their HLA-DQ association and thus are likely to have different pathogenic mechanisms.

HLA and glutamic acid decarboxylase in human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is linked to HLA factors on human chromosome 6 and strongly associated with the presence of autoantibodies against the glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform GAD65. These autoantibodies, GAD65Ab are detected both before and at the time of clinical diagnosis. Molecular sequencing of HLA alleles and PCR-based genotyping have improved our understanding of the linkage between HLA and IDDM. At the same time, the molecular cloning of human islet GAD65 and the development of precise and reproducible GAD65Ab assays with recombinant human GAD65 has given new insights to the problem of to what extent HLA control the development of a GAD65 immune response or to the development of IDDM. Recent data are briefly reviewed. In new onset IDDM patients GAD65Ab were associated with the DQ2/8 or DQ2/X genotype. However, in patients with an older age at onset the association was particularly pronounced with the DQ2/8 genotype. The DQ5/8 genotype was significantly decreased among GAD65Ab positive patients. Certain DQ genotypes, therefore, seem permissive for the formation of GAD65Ab in IDDM. Studies of the general population is needed to determine if the DQ2, 8 or both alleles predispose to GAD65 autoreactivity. This is important since other factors may control the development of IDDM in only a fraction of GAD65 antibody positive individuals detected following a screening of the general population.

Population analysis of protection by HLA-DR and DQ genes from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Swedish children with insulin-dependent diabetes and controls

A negative association between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and HLA-DR, DQA1 or DQB1 was found in a large population-based investigation of childhood-onset patients (more than 420 patients) and controls (more than 340 controls) from Sweden. The relative risk was decreased for several haplotypes that were negatively associated with IDDM: DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602, DR7-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0303, DR14-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0503, DR11-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301, DR13-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603 and DR4-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0301. In a relative predispositional effect (RPE) analysis, however, only the DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype was significantly decreased, which suggests that the major protective effect for IDDM is carried by this haplotype. This was supported by the observation that all genotypes which were negatively associated with IDDM, except DR7/13, included at least one allele from the DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype. Relative predispositional effect (RPE) analysis of genotypes showed further that the DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype was also negatively associated with IDDM when combined with any other haplotype, whether negatively or positively associated with IDDM. This supports previous suggestions that DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 acts dominantly. However, both the stratification and the predispositional allele test failed to distinguish the negative association between IDDM and DR15 from that of DQB1*0602. On the other hand, these tests indicated that DQA1*0102 was not likely to explain the negative association between IDDM and the DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype. We conclude that the major protective effect for IDDM in the population of Swedish children is conferred by the DR15-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype in a dominant fashion, the DQB1*0602 allele being the allele most likely to be responsible for the protective effect of this haplotype, although an effect of the DR15 allele could not be excluded.

Glutamate decarboxylase-, insulin-, and islet cell-antibodies and HLA typing to detect diabetes in a general population-based study of Swedish children

Most autoimmune diabetes occurs in those without a diabetic relative, but few cases are identifiable prospectively. To model general population prediction, 491 consecutive newly diabetic children from all of Sweden were tested for autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65ab), insulin (IAA), and islet cells (ICA), and for HLA-DQ genotypes by PCR; 415 matched control children were tested in parallel. GAD65ab sensitivity/specificity was 70/96%, versus 84/96% for ICA, 56/97% for IAA, 93/93% (any positive), 39/99.7% (all positive), and 41/99.7% (GAD65ab plus IAA). The latter's 25% predictive value was not improved by requiring concomitant high-risk HLA genotypes. GAD65ab were associated with DQA1*0501/B1*0201 (DQ2; P = 0.007) but not DQA1*0301/B1*0302 (DQ8), and IAA with DQA1*0301/B1*0302 (DQ8; P = 0.03) but not DQA1*0501/B1*0201 (DQ2). GAD65ab were more prevalent in females than males (79 vs. 63%; P < 0.0001) but did not vary with onset age nor season. Combining the three antibody assays yielded sufficient sensitivity for screening. GADab were relatively sensitive/specific for diabetes, but even with HLA marker combinations yielded predictive values insufficient for early immunointervention in the low-prevalence general population.

Effects of the second HLA-DQ haplotype on the association with childhood insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Analysis of HLA-DQ molecules in a large study comprising 425 consecutively diagnosed Swedish Caucasians with IDDM and 367 age, sex and geographically matched controls confirms previous observations that: (a) DQB1*0302-DQA1*0301 confer susceptibility in a dominant manner, except when they are associated with DQB1*0602-DQA1*0102; (b) DQB1*0501-DQA1*0201 does not confer susceptibility to IDDM in either homozygous or heterozygous combinations with any other DQ molecules except when it is in association with DQB1*0302-DQA1*0301; (c) heterozygous combinations of DQB1*0302-DQA1*0301 and DQB1*0501-DQA1*0201 confer the highest risk to IDDM; (d) in DQ2 positive patients being negative for DQ8 in second haplotype (n = 58) the susceptibility may be explained by DR, since all these patients were DR3 positive, or by unknown factors between DQ and DR and (e) DQB1*0602-DQA1*0102 confers protection in a dominant manner. This large study does not confirm the positive association previously observed in Norwegians between the DQ8/DQ4 genotype and IDDM, as this genotype was not significantly associated with IDDM in Swedish patients. The new findings in this study include (a) that DQ8/DQ6 (DQB1*0604-DQA1*0102) was associated with IDDM in Swedish patients and (b) analysis of individual amino acids in DQB1 chain does not fully explain susceptibility to IDDM.

Pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is strongly associated with certain HLA types and the presence of islet cell-specific autoantibodies. The pathogenesis is a specific loss of pancreatic beta cells. The dissection of IDDM genes is complicated by the low recurrence rate of the disease among first-degree relatives. HLA-DQ2 and 8 are closest to IDDM with a marked synergistic effect of DQ2/8 heterozygotes. The associations with other HLA genes are often explained by linkage disequilibrium. Genetic factors on other chromosomes which influence the pathogenesis are still to be fully identified but candidates are on chromosomes 11 (insulin gene polymorphisms) and 7 (TCR gene polymorphisms). The autoreactivity against the GAD65 isoform is pronounced both before and at the clinical onset of IDDM. GAD65 autoantibodies show the highest predictive value and may represent an initiating autoantigen. Autoantibodies to numerous other beta cell autoantigens are detected at the clinical onset but may represent a secondary response and antigen spreading during a sustained autoimmune attack on the beta cells. The role of T cells in human IDDM is yet to be defined. GAD65 and other islet autoantibodies have a low positive predictive value for IDDM and further investigations are needed to clarify ways to predict IDDM in the general population.

Different HLA-DQ are positively and negatively associated in Swedish patients with myasthenia gravis

The aim of this study was to determine the association between HLA-DQ and myasthenia gravis (MG) in 79 Swedish patients and 155 unrelated population based controls. HLA genotyping was done using polymerase chain reaction combined with sequence specific oligonucleotide probes. The DQB allele, DQB1*0201 was positively associated with MG, 39/79 (49%) patients and 43/152 (28%) controls (OR 2.47, Pc = 0.037). DQB1*0201 was observed more frequently in patients with an early onset of disease, below 30 years (Pc = 0.033). A negative association was found for DQA1*0103, 7/78 (9%) patients and 38/154 (25%) controls (OR 0.30, Pc = 0.037). DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201 together was significantly increased in patients when compared to controls (OR 2.68; Pc = 0.019). In conclusion, two different DQ2 haplotypes (DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201) were positively and the DQA1*0103 allele was negatively associated with MG. Susceptibility and resistance to MG in Swedish patients is mediated by HLA-DQ.

Polymorphic amino acid variations in HLA-DQ are associated with systematic physical property changes and occurrence of IDDM. Members of the Swedish Childhood Diabetes Study

The association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and insulin-dependent diabetes was studied in a large population-based investigation using genotyping of 425 new-onset patients, 0-14 years of age, and 367 matched control subjects. As many as 97% of patients compared with 75% of control subjects were positive for one or several of DQA1*0301, DQA1*0501, DQB1*0302, or DQB1*0201. Asp-57 DQB was present among 28% of patients, indicating that this residue alone does not confer protection. Combining Asp-57 DQB1 with either Arg-52 DQA1 or Leu-69 DQA1 did not explain susceptibility or protection either. DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (DQ8) and DQA1*0301-DQB1*0301 (DQ7) are identical except for four amino acid substitutions in the beta-chain, but DQ8 was positively (odds ratio 8.07; P < 0.001) and DQ7 negatively (odds ratio 0.38; P < 0.001) associated with the disease. Molecular modeling was used to determine whether physiochemical properties such as steric factors and surface electrostatic potentials also differ in a systematic way for various DQ molecules. Amino acids were substituted systematically at the four polymorphic sites, and the solvent-accessible surfaces and electrostatic potentials were computed for each molecule. Dramatic alterations in electrostatic potential were seen for double substitutions at position 45 (G45E) and 57 (A57D) of DQB1. The variation of physicochemical properties due to polymorphic substitutions may be significant to the mechanism of HLA-DQ association with insulin-dependent diabetes, via the effect these property variations have on peptide antigen binding selectivity and subsequent interactions with specific T-cell receptors.

Inheritance of MHC class II genes in IDDM studied in population-based affected and control families

The transmission of HLA-DR and DQ was compared between 46 families with at least one child affected by insulin dependent diabetes mellitis (IDDM) and 43 healthy control families. In the patient families, there was an increased transmission of DR4 (p < 0.025) and DQB1*0302 (p < 0.01) from both parents to the index patient. There was an increased transmission of DQB1*0302 (p < 0.03) from the mothers only. The non-inherited maternal haplotypes showed a significantly decreased frequency (p < 0.01) of positively associated haplotypes (DR4-DQA1* 0301-DQB1*0302, DR3-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201) compared to all parental haplotypes in the control families. In the control families neither transmission rates nor frequencies of non-inherited haplotypes differed from those expected in the control families. In conclusion, the observed reduction of IDDM-positively associated haplotypes in patient non-inherited maternal haplotypes, but not in non-inherited paternal haplotypes, suggests that tolerance during fetal life to maternal non-inherited HLA molecules may be important to diabetes development.

Analysis of antibody markers, DRB1, DRB5, DQA1 and DQB1 genes and modeling of DR2 molecules in DR2-positive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

HLA-DR2 is negatively associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The aim of the present study was to analyze DR2-positive patients among 425 consecutively diagnosed unrelated Swedish children with IDDM and in 367 matched controls. HLA-DRB, -DQA and -DQB were determined by Taq I restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes was done for DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 and DRB5. DR2 was positive in 11/425 patients (3%) and 101/367 (28%) controls (OR 0.07, p < 0.0001). Of the 11 DR2-positive patients, PCR was done in 10, of whom 8 were positive for DRB1*1601-DRB5*0201 compared to 4/96 (4%) controls (OR 92.0: p < 0.001) while the remaining 2 were positive for DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101 compared to 92/96 (96%, OR 0.01; p < 0.001). In 2 patients, a recombination between the haplotypes DQB1*0502-DQA1*0102 (DQ5)-DRB1*1601-DRB5*0201 (DR16 Dw21) and DQB1*0301-DQA1*0501 (DQ7)-DRB1*1602-DRB5*0202 (DR16 Dw22) was observed resulting in the DQB1*0301-DQA1*0501 (DQ7) DRB1*1601-DRB5*0201 (DR16 Dw22) haplotypes. The second haplotype was DR3 DQ2 in 6/11 and DR4 DQ8 in 2/11 DR2-positive patients. In all 3 DQB1*0602-DQA1*0102-DR15-positive patients the second haplotype was DR4-positive. In order to test whether physicochemical properties of the DR2 molecules were associated with IDDM, we constructed three-dimensional models of the peptide binding and T-cell recognition sites (alpha 1 and beta 1 domains) of five subtypes of DR2-DRB1, based on the published DR1 crystal structure. No correlations were observed for DR molecule physicochemical properties and diabetes susceptibility. Islet cell antibodies, insulin autoantibodies and GAD65 antibodies, were measured in DR2-positive patients (n = 11) and controls (n = 101). Despite the presence of the DR2 haplotype the antibody markers were significantly elevated in the patients compared to the controls (GAD65 3/10 patients and 2/101 controls; ICA 7/11 patients and 1/101 controls and IAA 3/11 patients and 0/101 controls). In conclusion, of the five subtypes of DR2, only one, the DRB1*1501, DRB5*0101, DQB1*0602-DQA1*0102 haplotype, was negatively associated with IDDM. DQ may therefore confer more protection from the disease than DR.

HLA DR and DQ RFLP analysis in Crohn's disease

A study of 109 Swedish patients and 85 healthy Swedish controls with Crohn's disease (CD) by HLA class II RFLP genotyping was carried out. There was no significant association for any single DR or DQ specificity or phenotypic combination of DR and/or DQ specificities among our study group of Caucasian extraction.

Analysis of HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 genes in Mexican Americans with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Mexican American patients (n = 35) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and control subjects (n = 39) were HLA-DQA and DQB typed by the polymerase chain reaction technique combined with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. Either DQB1*0302 or DQB1*0201 was present among 91% (32/35) of the patients compared to 67% (26/39) of controls. Either DQA1*0501 or DQA1*0301 was present in all patients (100% or 35/35) compared to 29/39 (74%) (OR 12.06 Pc < 0.05) of controls. All four of these genes, in cis or trans, were present in 15/35 (43%) of the patients compared to 3/39 (8%) of controls (OR 9.0; Pc < 0.01). The presence of one or more non-susceptibility alleles showed a dose-related decrease in relative risk. Presence of aspartic acid (Asp) at position 57 of the DQ beta chain did not confer protection and non-Asp homozygosity did not confer susceptibility to IDDM in this ethnic group. In conclusion, susceptibility to IDDM in Mexican Americans is associated with particular DQA and DQB combinations, illustrates dose-dependent parameters and contradicts the critical residue hypothesis.

Diethylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), a potent inhibitor of mammalian S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. Effects on cell proliferation and polyamine metabolism in L1210 leukemia cells

The polyamines are cell constituents essential for growth and differentiation. S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) catalyzes a key step in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway. Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) is an anti-leukemic agent with a strong inhibitory effect against AdoMetDC. However, the lack of specificity limits the usefulness of MGBG. In the present report we have used an analog of MGBG, diethylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (DEGBG), with a much greater specificity and potency against AdoMetDC, to investigate the effects of AdoMetDC inhibition on cell proliferation and polyamine metabolism in mouse L1210 leukemia cells. DEGBG was shown to effectively inhibit AdoMetDC activity in exponentially growing L1210 cells. The inhibition of AdoMetDC was reflected in a marked decrease in the cellular concentrations of spermidine and spermine. The concentration of putrescine, on the other hand, was greatly increased. Treatment with DEGBG resulted in a compensatory increase in the synthesis of AdoMetDC demonstrating an efficient feedback control. Cells seeded in the presence of DEGBG ceased to grow after a lag period of 1-2 days, indicating that the cells contained an excess of polyamines which were sufficient for one or two cell cycles in the absence of polyamine synthesis. The present results indicate that analogs of MGBG, having a greater specificity against AdoMetDC, might be valuable for studies concerning polyamines and cell proliferation.

HLA-DQ primarily confers protection and HLA-DR susceptibility in type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes studied in population-based affected families and controls

The association between HLA-DR and -DQ and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in a defined high-incidence area was analyzed in a total of 58 population-based patients, representing 77% of IDDM patients with age at onset below 16 years, and in 92 unrelated parents in control families without IDDM. HLA haplotypes were confirmed by analyzing first-degree relatives in both groups. Seven different methods were used to analyze risk: (1) odds ratio, (2) absolute risk, (3) haplotype relative risk, (4) transcomplementation relative risk, (5) relative predisposing effects, (6) stratification analysis, and (7) test of predisposing allele on haplotype. DQB1*0302 indicated somewhat higher risk than did DR4, while DR3 had a higher risk than DQB1*0201; however, the 95% confidence intervals of the risk estimates overlapped. The positive association between IDDM and the DQB1*0201-DQA1*0501-DR3 haplotype seems to be due to DR3 or to an unknown linked gene. More important, DQA1*0301 was present among 93% of the patients, and this allele in various transcomplementation combinations with DQB1 alleles showed closer association to IDDM than did any other alleles. The strong negative association of the DQB1*0602 allele also in the presence of either DR4 or DQB1*0302 or both suggests that, in a high-risk population for IDDM, HLA-DQ primarily confers protection, perhaps by induction of tolerance. Consistent with known functions, HLA-DR may primarily confer susceptibility, perhaps by induction of autoreactive T lymphocytes.

HLA-DR3, DQ2 homozygosity in two patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus superimposed with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

Two unrelated young males with the unusual simultaneous presence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis are reported. Both patients manifested homozygosity for the DR3-DQw2 (DQB*0201) HLA genotypes. We believe that homozygosity for this genotype may predispose for this type of multi-organ autoimmune disease.

Release of polyamines in cultures of rat parotid and liver cells

Rat parotid gland and liver cells were cultured for 6 and 24 h. The cells as well as their growth medium were analyzed on their content of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. In control medium the content of polyamines was very low but already after 6 h substantial amounts of all three polyamines under study had been released into the medium from parotid as well as from liver cells. The release was much more pronounced from parotid compared to liver cells. Putrescine was accumulated in parotid cells as well as in the medium indicating that a new synthesis of this amine occurred in these cells.