Previous studies have suggested more than 20 genetic intervals that are associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D), but identification of specific genes has been challenging and largely limited to known candidate genes. Here, we report evidence for an association between T1D and multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 197 kb of genomic DNA in the IDDM5 interval. We cloned a new gene (SUMO4), encoding small ubiquitin-like modifier 4 protein, in the interval. A substitution (M55V) at an evolutionarily conserved residue of the crucial CUE domain of SUMO4 was strongly associated with T1D (P = 1.9 x 10(-7)). SUMO4 conjugates to I kappa B alpha and negatively regulates NF kappa B transcriptional activity. The M55V substitution resulted in 5.5 times greater NF kappa B transcriptional activity and approximately 2 times greater expression of IL12B, an NF kappa B-dependent gene. These findings suggest a new pathway that may be implicated in the pathogenesis of T1D.

Linkage disequilibrium (association) analysis was used to evaluate a candidate region near the CTLA4/CD28 genes using a multi-ethnic collection of families with one or more children affected by IDDM. In the data set unique to this study (Spanish, French, Mexican-American, Chinese and Korean), the transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) revealed a highly significant deviation for transmission of alleles at the (AT)n microsatellite marker in the 3' untranslated region (P = 0.002) and the A/G polymorphism in the first exon (P = 0.00002) of the CTLA4 gene. The overall evidence for transmission deviation of the CTLA4 A/G alleles is also highly significant (P = 0.00005) in the combined data set (669 multiplex and 357 simplex families) from this study and a previous report on families from USA, Italy, UK, Spain and Sardinia. Significant heterogeneity was observed in these data sets. The British, Sardinian and Chinese data sets did not show any deviation for the A/G polymorphism, while the Caucasian-American data set showed a weak transmission deviation. Strong deviation for transmission was seen in the three Mediterranean-European populations (Italian, Spanish and French) (P = 10(-5)), the Mexican-American population (P = 0.002) and the Korean population (P = 0.03). These results suggest that a true IDDM susceptibility locus (designated IDDM12) is located near CTLA4.

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Aims The TEDDY study seeks to identify environmental factors influencing the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) using intensive follow-up of children at elevated genetic risk. The study requires a cost-effective yet accurate screening strategy to identify the high-risk cohort. Methods The TEDDY cohort was identified through newborn screening using HLA class II genes based on criteria established with pre-TEDDY data. HLA typing was completed at six international centers using different genotyping methods that can achieve >98% accuracy. Results TEDDY developed separate inclusion criteria for the general population (GP) and first degree relatives (FDR) of T1D patients. The FDR eligibility includes nine haplogenotypes (DR3/4, DR4/4, DR4/8, DR3/3, DR4/4b, DR4/1, DR4/13, DR4/9 and DR3/9) for broad HLA diversity, while the GP eligibility includes only the first four haplogenotypes with DRB1*0403 as an exclusion allele. TEDDY has screened 414,714 GP infants, of which 19,906 (4.8%) were eligible, while 1,415 of the 6,333 screened FDR infants (22.2%) were eligible. High resolution confirmation testing of the eligible subjects indicated that the low-cost and low-resolution genotyping techniques employed at the screening centers yielded an accuracy of 99%. There were considerable variations in eligibility rates among the centers for GP (3.5% – 7.4%) and FDR (19% – 32%) subjects. The eligibility rates among US ethnic groups were 0.9%, 1.3%, 5.0% and 6.9% for Asians, Black, Caucasians and Hispanics, respectively. Conclusions Different low-cost and low-resolution genotyping methods are useful for the efficient and accurate identification of a high-risk cohort for follow-up based on the TEDDY HLA inclusion criteria (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00279318).

OBJECTIVEWe tested the associations between genetic background and selected environmental exposures with respect to islet autoantibodies and type 1 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSInfants with HLA-DR high-risk genotypes were prospectively followed for diabetes-related autoantibodies. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) came from the Illumina ImmunoChip and environmental exposure data were by parental report. Children were followed to age 6 years.RESULTSInsulin autoantibodies occurred earlier than GAD antibody (GADA) and then declined, while GADA incidence rose and remained constant (significant in HLA-DR4 but not in the DR3/3 children). The presence of SNPs rs2476601 (PTPN22) and rs2292239 (ERBB3) demonstrated increased risk of both autoantibodies to insulin (IAA) only and GADA only. SNP rs689 (INS) was protective of IAA only, but not of GADA only. The rs3757247 (BACH2) SNP demonstrated increased risk of GADA only. Male sex, father or sibling as the diabetic proband, introduction of probiotics under 28 days of age, and weight at age 12 months were associated with IAA only, but only father as the diabetic proband and weight at age 12 months were associated with GADA only. Mother as the diabetic proband was not a significant risk factor.CONCLUSIONSThese results show clear differences in the initiation of autoimmunity according to genetic factors and environmental exposures that give rise to IAA or GADA as the first appearing indication of autoimmunity.