Patent ID: 6162609
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining the likelihood that a human subject has type 1 diabetes, comprising:a) isolating CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cells from said human subject;b) stimulanting said t cells with a T cell activating factor and determining the amount of IL-4 and IFN-.gamma. secreted by said CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cells;c) based upon the determination of step b), calculating the ratio of IL-4 to IFN-.gamma.; andd) correlating the ratio determined in step c) with the likelihood that said human subject has type 1 diabetes, wherein said likelihood increases as said ratio decreases.