title: Genetic control of the immune response to nuclease. II. Detection of idiotypic determinants by the inhibition of antibody-mediated nuclease inactivation.
abstract: The humoral response of mice to staphylococcal nuclease has previously been shown to be controlled genetically by H-2-linked Ir gene(s). In order to examine the possible contributions of variable region immunoglobulin genes to this genetic control, we have developed a system for the detection of idiotypic determinants on anti-nuclease immunoglobulin molecules. Antisera to nuclease were raised in two high responder strains, A/J and SJL. The corresponding antibodies were purified by affinity chromotography on Sepharose-nuclease columns, and were used to immunize groups of Lewis rats. An assay system was developed to assess the inhibition of antibody-mediated inactivation of nuclease activity by the rat antisera thus produced. Despite the presence of many species-specific anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibodies in these sera, inhibition of antibody-mediated enzyme inactivation was found to be specific for anti-nuclease antibodies of the immunizing strain. The inhibition could not be removed by extensive absorption with normal serum proteins from the antibody-producing strain, and was shown to require antibodies directed toward binding sites of the anti-nuclease antibodies. This inhibition thus defines idiotypic determinants of anti-nuclease antibodies.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D007106:Immune Sera; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease