Human Diabetes: Genetic, Environmental and Autoimmune Etiology

The findings of immunogenetic linkages, autoantibodies­ including autoislet cell and autoinsulin antibodies-and viruses in diabetes has attracted increasing interest among immunologists, virologists, geneticists and clinicians. To gather together the recent avalanche ef new and exciting information emerging in this area, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology has put together two volumes on this subject. The first volume, CTMI 156, (see page VI for contents) provided data on the animal models and experimental approaches currently employed to evaluate both the autoimmune and virologic factors contributing to the causation and patho­ genesis of diabetes. The second is this current volume. It is edited by Drs. BAEKKESKOV and HANSEN and focuses on current knowledge in human diabetes. This volume on human diabetes contains ten chapters from leading researchers. The book is arranged in two components. The first part critically analyzes the genes in man that playa role in susceptibility to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The second segment analyzes the role(s) that various environ­ mental factors play in IDDM and provides data on the autoantigens, aberrant immune responses, and the role of cytokines and free radicals in the pathogenesis of diabetes. La Jolla, California MICHAEL B. A. OLDSTONE, M.D. This collection of studies was conceived as part of a two-volume review of the immunology of diabetes. The contents of Volume 156, which forms part 1, are listed below.