The IDDMK1,222 retrovirus is not detectable in either mRNA or genomic DNA from patients with type 1 diabetes

Andy Muir, Qing Guo Ruan, Michele P. Marron, Jin-Xiong She

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new viral sequence (IDDMK1,222) similar to the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10/K18 subfamilies has recently been isolated from the culture supernatants of leukocyte-infiltrated islets from two patients who died at the onset of type 1 diabetes. It was claimed that this endogenous retrovirus is expressed in patients with type 1 diabetes but not in healthy control subjects, suggesting an important role of the retrovirus in β-cell- specific autoimmunity that results in type 1 diabetes. However, despite exhaustive attempts involving identical and expanded methods of detection, we did not observe the IDDMK1,222 viral sequence in genomic DNA, lymphocyte, or plasma RNA in any subject. Therefore, we believe that the vital sequence is not derived from an endogenous retrovirus and that a role for the retrovirus in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes must be reconsidered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)219-222
Number of pages4
JournalDiabetes
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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