The Insulin gene and Diabetes Mellitus : a new approach

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by chronic hypergly- caemia, and a propensity to develop microangiopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and atherosclerosis. It is a common condition and is seen in all ethnic groups. The causes of diabetes are poorly understood, but appear to involve some form of interaction between hereditary and environmental factors. The genetics of diabetes is still unclear, but a picture is slowly emerging. Recently, associations with two HLA-DR antigens 3 and 4 (coded for by genes on chromosome 6) have been demonstrated with insulin- dependent diabetes, but are not sufficient to explain the entire genetic component of this disease. It has been postulated that a second gene locus might be involved. One such gene may be the human insulin gene which is located on the short arm of chromosome 11.