The presence of antibodies reacting with the p53 tumor suppressor protein h
as been described in patients with some autoimmune disorders. In this study
we looked for serum anti-p53 antibodies in 64 patients with autoimmune typ
e 1 diabetes mellitus within 4 mo of diagnosis. The presence of anti-p53 an
tibodies was observed in 6/64 (9.4%) subjects with type 1 diabetes, and in
1/44 (2.3%) subjects with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases (18 prim
ary biliary cirrhosis, 10 autoimmune hepatitis, 16 thyroid diseases), but i
n none of 45 control subjects. No relationship was found between antibodies
directed against islet- and non-islet-specific antigens and anti-p53 antib
odies. These findings support a possible role for p53 in some autoimmune di
sorders.