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This was a private email, being sent to the List with Dr. Reichelt's
permission.
 
 3/13/96   7:56 AM
From:  Kalle Reichelt,[log in to unmask]
 
I would like to draw your attention to a series of papers that link
lactalbumin in milk ,early exposure to this protein, the formation of
antiboides and subsequent autoimmunity as a possible cause of diabetes
mellitus( insulin needy diabetes) (1-4). Because peptides are the actual
epitopes or immunolgically critical signals cut out from foreign proteins
and presented to immunecompetent cells for antibody formation(5); it is
easy to envision molecular mimicry with cross reactivity towards endogenous
proteins etc. In the case of diabetes it is thought that the antibody
formed against a peptide from lactalbumin cross reacts with an acute phase
protein induced by eg.infections, on the surface of the beta-cells in the
pancreas. This causes their destruction.  There is an increase in
autoimmune diseases in celiacs.(6)
 
1: Martin JM et al (1991) Milk proteins inthe etiology of Insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus. Annal of med 23:447-452.
 
2:Karjalainen J et al 81992) Bovine albumin peptide as a possible trigger
of insulin-dependent doabetes mellitus. New Eng j Med 327: 302-307
 
3:Dahl-J|rgensen K.et al (1991)Relationship between cow's milk consumption
and incidence of IDDM in childhood . Diabetes care 14: 1081-1083.
 
4:Shanahan F et al (1982) Coeliac disease and Diabetes mellitus: A study of
24 patients with HLA typing Quaterly J Med (New series) LI,Nom 203,
329-335.
 
5:Janeway CA (1993) How the Immune system recognizes invaders.Scientific
American 269: 40-47.
 
6: Cooper BT et al (1978) Coeliac disease and immunological disorders, Brit
med J 1: 537-539.
All the best                                    Cheers
                                                TINY
 
 
K. Reichelt
Pediatric Research Institute
N-0027 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 22 86 90 45
Fax: +47 22 86 91 17
E-mail: [log in to unmask]