Isolated hapten-binding receptors of sensitized lymphocytes. III. Evidence for idiotypic restriction of T-cell receptors.
The primary antibody response of C57BL/6 mice to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl (NP) hapten is restricted to antibody molecules expressing the NPb idiotype. This idiotype is a genetic marker for V genes in the heavy chain linkage group. In the secondary response, the frequency of NPb idiotype-positive molecules within the antibody population drops to very low values. Accordingly, isolated NP binding receptors from NP-sensitized B lymphocytes are largely devoid of this idiotype. In contrast, the NPb idiotype is expressed on the majority of the receptor fractions which we consider T-cell derived. This finding suggests that the antigen receptors of T lymphocytes may be restricted to the expression of major (germ-line encoded?) heavy chain idiotypes.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006241:Haptens; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D006241:Haptens; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains