title: Nucleotide sequence of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody specific for a rabies virus-neutralizing monoclonal idiotypic antibody reveals extensive somatic variability suggestive of an antigen-driven immune response.
abstract: We previously described the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) isolated from EBV-transformed human PBL after immunization with rabies vaccine. The present study concerns the molecular characteristics of the Ab2 and the germ-line elements that gave rise to it. The H chain of this antibody derives from the small VHV family of human V region gene segments. Parallel studies on the germ-line VHV gene isolated from the same individual revealed that the expressed molecule contains 19 nucleotide differences in the VH gene segment. The D segment of Ab2 could have arisen by a D to D fusion; the J segment is a JH6. Extensive somatic variation evident in the H chain variable region of this naturally arising monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody suggests that this Ab2, the product of a CD5+ B cells, was the consequence of an Ag-driven immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: van der Heijden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bunschoten
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Uytdehaag
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Capra
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region