One could speculate that the ability of HLA-DQ8trans to present both a HIP and an unmodified insulin peptide to an autoreactive T cell clone in a stimulatory fashion suggests a possible mechanism in which carrying both the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 alleles increases the risk of developing T1D by facilitating T cell cross reactivity to HIPs and unmodified peptides. The gene discussed is INS; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.