HLA associations in type 1 diabetes: merging genetics and immunology

The well-recognized associations between HLA loci and type 1 diabetes have proven exceedingly difficult to dissect. One reason for this is that several genes combine to determine susceptibility to or protection from diabetes. Another obstacle is posed by the strong linkage disequilibrium that exists between the HLA genes, which makes it difficult to study their individual roles. Recent studies of transgenic mice have provided new insight into how some HLA genes might regulate the effects of others.