Study: MMR Vaccine Linked to Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmunity against glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) has been associated with type 1 diabetes. GAD65 (65kDa) and GAD67 (67kDa, to a lesser extent) are involved in type 1 diabetes. Following an anecdotal report of type 1 diabetes diagnosis a few weeks after measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine administration, MMR vaccine contents were examined. Major proteins in the vaccine apart from the measles, mumps and rubella live viruses were chicken embryo cell culture proteins. GAD65 and GAD67 are expressed during chicken embryogenesis. Results: GAD65 protein comparison between human and chicken reveals 95% sequence homology. The results provide strong evidence that chicken embryo cell culture proteins in the MMR vaccine can cause the development of antibodies against chicken GAD65 which cross-react with human GAD65 protein to cause type 1 diabetes.