Generex Biotechnology has published results of studies applicable to the early diagnosis, and possibly treatment of type I diabetes. The study, entitled "Recognition of Ii-Key/MHC Class II Epitope Hybrids Derived from Proinsulin and GAD Peptides by T Cells in Type I Diabetes" appears in the April issue of the international peer-reviewed journal Hormone and Metabolism Research. The article reports on the results of a collaborative study between scientists at the University Campus Bio-Medico in Rome, Italy and scientists at Generex's wholly-owned subsidiary, Antigen Express.

The methodology reported in the publication for identification of autoimmune cells in diabetic patients relies upon the Ii-Key technology developed at Antigen Express. Specifically, attaching the Ii-Key segment to an antigenic peptide designed to activate CD4+ T helper cells increases the potency of the peptide while not altering its specificity.

The study reports that Ii-Key modified peptides from each of these proteins were capable of detecting autoimmune T cells in the blood from patients with type I diabetes but not in the blood from normal individuals. Unmodified peptides showed lower sensitivity in detecting autoimmune T cells that the peptides bound to the Ii-Key.