Abstract
Anti-idiotypes were raised in mice against three well-characterized anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) monoclonal antibodies (mcAbs), as well as against polyclonal mouse anti-AChR antibodies. In binding experiments, the anti-idiotypic antibodies inhibited the binding of AChR only to the immunizing idiotype. However, a less restricted specificity was found in in vivo experiments. Mice producing anti-idiotypes were challenged with AChR and the idiotypic composition of their anti-AChR response was analysed using specific rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies. It was found that preimmunization with a certain idiotype leads to the preferential suppression of this particular idiotype in the polyclonal response to AChR. However, preimmunization with either polyclonal or monoclonal anti-AChR antibodies resulted in a reduction of the overall anti-Torpedo AChR and anti-muscle AChR titers. This reduction was greater than would be expected from the representation of each of the respective idiotypes in the polyclonal anti-AChR serum, and may imply that in addition to the immunizing idiotype other anti-AChR idiotypes are also suppressed. Our results suggest that anti-idiotypes may have a potential for the modulation of the autoimmune response directed against AChR in myasthenia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 331-336 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Immunology Letters |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1985 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the Los Angeles Chapter of Myasthenia Gravis Foundation.
Keywords
- acetylcholine receptor
- anti-idiotypes
- monoclonal antibodies
- regulation