Project objectives

The objective of this project is to evaluate the potential of oxidized insulin antibodies as a biomarker of type 1 diabetes. Specific objectives are:

• Evaluate the diagnostic potential of these antibodies through a validation strategy using sera from patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes
• Evaluate the ability of these antibodies to label the different stages of the preclinical phase of type 1 diabetes using sera from patients at risk for type 1 diabetes, with or without beta-cell autoimmunity
• Identify the timing of the appearance of antibodies against oxidized insulin compared to other immunological markers of type 1 diabetes and in relation to genetic, metabolic and oxidative stress characteristics.

The serum levels of antibodies to oxidized insulin are measured by ELISA in the serum of samples obtained from individuals in the various pathogenetic phases of type 1 diabetes:
1) new onset type 1 diabetes;
2) subjects at high risk for type 1 diabetes, with or without beta-cell autoimmunity;
3) patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes;
4) type 2 diabetes as a control group;
5) healthy subjects not at risk of type 1 diabetes;
6) subjects with other autoimmune pathologies. 

Start and end date

November 2015 - November 2016

Project Manager

Dr. Rocky Strollo

Coordinating institution of the project

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

Funding source

European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes