title: Immunogenicity of anti-idiotypic antibodies and of their F(ab')2 fragments.
abstract: Within the idiotype/anti-idiotype network, immunoglobulins act alternatively as reactive molecules and as antigens. To investigate the antigenic properties of immunoglobulins, we evaluated the immunogenicity in rabbits of three murine monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies and of their F(ab')2 fragments. These antibodies, bearing the internal image of a human melanoma antigen, may be useful in view of a human therapeutic application. The effect was evaluated as specific anti-anti-idiotypic response, related to the immunogenicity of the idiotypic epitopes in the combining sites of the immunoglobulins, and as total anti-murine immunoglobulin response, which represents the recognition of all the immunological determinants of the molecule. The results showed that the administration of the F(ab')2 fragments results in either higher or similar degrees of anti-anti-idiotypic immunization, compared to those induced by the whole immunoglobulins. Nevertheless, when anti-anti-idiotypic immunogenicity was increased, the anti-murine response did not increase proportionally. This suggests that the use for in vivo administration of F(ab')2 fragments is more convenient than the use of their original molecules, since this results, at least, in a similar or eventually in an increased specific immunogenicity, while the possibility of aspecific recognition is reduced.
authors.affiliation: Sclavo Research Center, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tassi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosaia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lorenzoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceccarini
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tecce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins