Induction of T and B cell immunity by anti-idiotypic antibody

✍ Scribed by K. Eichmann; K. Rajewsky

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1975
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 678 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830051002

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A small dose of the IgG~1~ fraction of anti‐idiotypic antibody (āId 1) raised in guinea pigs against a strain A/J antibody specific for streptococcal Group A carbohydrate sensitizes A/J mice against Group A streptococci. This is opposed to the previously established suppressive function of anti‐idiotypic antibody of the IgG~2~ class (āId 2). Correspondingly, āId 1 but not āId 2 is eliminated from the circulation in the way typical of an immunogenic molecule. However, the stimulatory component in the IgG~1~ fraction is not necessarily itself IgG~1~ antibody.

Sensitization occurs in both B and helper T lymphocytes and is specific for Group A streptococci. In the B cell compartment sensitization is restricted to precursor cells expressing the idiotype. The concomitant activation of T helper cells therefore suggests that these cells make use of receptors with a similar or identical idiotype.

Efficient sensitization by āId 1 of both T and B cells is also demonstrated in strain C57L/J mice which upon immunization with Group A streptococci express a partially cross‐reacting idiotype as a minor component. When such animals were primed with āId 1, essentially all of the anti‐carbohydrate antibody carried the partially cross‐reacting idiotype.