A STUDY OF CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO PANCREATIC ANTIGENS IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROCALCULOUS PANCREATIC DIABETES

In order to investigate whether there was any association between auto immunity to pancreatic antigens with FCPD as well as IDDM, cell-mediat ed immune response to pancreatic antigens was studied by lymphoprolife ration assay in 7 FCPD, 17 IDDM, 33 NIDDM patients and 102 normal cont rols. Optimal pancreatic antigen concentrations used were 100, 150 and 200 mu g/ml. Positive results were considered for each concentration of antigens tested, at stimulation index (SI) > (mean+/-SD) SI obtaine d from normal age-matched controls with the use of the corresponding c oncentration of antigen. The one who gave positive result with any of these optimal antigen concentrations was considered to be the responde r to pancreatic antigens. With this criterion, the responders were fou nd to be 3/7 (42.9%) FCPD, 6/17 (35.3%) IDDM and 6/33 (18.2%) NIDDM pa tients; while there were 11 of all 102 (10.8%) normal controls.