Auto-anti-allotype antibody in allotype-suppressed rabbits: immunoregulation of immunoglobulin synthesis by an allotype-idiotype network

Isolation of anti-idiotypic antibodies by immunoaffinity chromatography on Affinichrom beads

Anti-idiotypic antibodies are important regulators of the immune system but they are difficult to isolate and monitor. We have developed a technique for isolating specific auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies by high-performance immunoaffinity chromatography using immobilized autologous anti-tumor antibodies as the affinity ligand. The isolated anti-idiotypes demonstrated the ability to react with the original antitumor antibodies and inhibit their reactivity against autologous tumor cells. This technique can be used to monitor regulatory antibodies in cancer patients receiving immune modulation therapy.

The intrathecal immune response in multiple sclerosis: a different concept of 'specificity'

A hypothesis is presented in which the immune response in multiple sclerosis is conceived as a primary response to an auto-antigen located within the immune system (e.g. a certain allotype or HLA epitope) which shows subsequent or simultaneous specificity for a greater number of nominal antigens [corrected]. The increased tendency of [corrected] such antibodies to self-aggregation might play a critical role in the pathogenesis.

The idiotypy of auto anti-allotype antibody induced in immunoglobulin allotype suppressed rabbits

Rabbit anti-rabbit idiotype antibody was raised to both clonally heterogeneous and restricted auto anti-b6 antibodies induced in b6 allotype-suppressed (b6)/(b6) homozygous and b4/(b6) heterozygous rabbits. In every case the anti-idiotypic antibodies were specific only for the inducing antibody as shown by direct binding solid-phase RIA. Anti-idiotypes directed to the same antibody preparation had a similar but not identical specificity. It was demonstrated by IEF that the same idiotype specificity (spectrotype) was present throughout the anti-b6 response in individual rabbits.

Demonstration of the clonality and specificity of an auto-antibody response to a suppressed immunoglobulin allotype of the rabbit kappa chain b locus

A regulatory idiotypic network is proposed to control allotype expression in normal rabbits. We have used suppression of the kappa chain b6 allotype in an attempt to restrict the number of regulatory idiotypes involved in an induced auto anti-allotype response. These auto anti-b6 antibodies were examined by an agarose imprint immuno-fixation IEF technique using iodinated allotype-bearing IgG. All totally b6-suppressed rabbits produced a clonally complex response which was generally spectrotypically unique - thus contradicting previous claims of a dominant common idiotypic pattern. The compensating light chains thus have available as many regulatory V genes as does the kappa 1 light chain. However, the b6/b6 homozygotes breaking b6 suppression produce an auto anti-b6 antibody which does not interact with their "escaping" molecules and which is clonally restricted. We propose a regulatory mechanism limiting the V genes utilised to produce the autoantibody, the latter then allowing only molecules bearing non-interactive allotopes to "escape" suppression.

The structural and genetic basis for expression of normal and latent VHa allotypes of the rabbit

The immunoglobulin heavy chain variable regions of the rabbit are unusual in having genetically controlled, serologically detectable alternative forms, the VHa allotypes, as well as minor VH allotypes of the x, y and w groups. New insights into the probable structural basis for the VHa allotypes have come from re-examination of earlier protein sequence data in the light of newly deduced protein sequences derived from sequencing cloned cDNAs and genomic DNAs encoding VH regions. Here we review this sequence information, and define the allotype-correlated differences at seven positions in framework region 1 and 10 positions in framework region 3 that may lead to the serologically detectable allotypic determinants (allotopes). Most alternative amino acids at allotype-correlated positions can be derived from each other by single-base changes. Thus somatic mutations and/or gene conversion-like events must be considered along with other serological and genetic explanations for various reported observations of the production of latent VHa allotypes. The proximity of rabbit VH genes (approximately 3 kb apart) might enhance the likelihood of conversion-like events in both germline and somatic cells.