Anti-IL-6 (0.01 mg/kg b.wt., for 5 days) or anti-IL-17A (0.1 mg/kg b.wt., for 5 days) were administered to IDDM rats within 1 day after diabetes manifestation (blood glucose > 7.5 mmol/l), either alone or in combination with anti-TCR (0.5 mg/kg b.wt., for 5 days) in a double or triple fashion. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and type 1 diabetes mellitus.