Demonstration and immunochemical characterization of natural, autologous anti-idiotypic antibodies throughout the course of experimental syphilis.
Immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) from serial bleeds obtained 1 week to 5 months after infection of rabbits with Treponema pallidum were examined for autologous anti-idiotypic (auto-anti-Id) antibodies. The capacities of IgGs to bind 125I-IgG F(ab')2 anti-T. pallidum prepared from earlier bleeds were determined by using radioimmunoassays. Results obtained in these assays suggested that auto-anti-Id IgGs were demonstrable between 60 and 180 days postinfection. Following reinfection, 90 days after the initial infection, auto-anti-Id IgGs peaked 6 to 8 weeks later, even though they were first noted as early as 2 weeks postreinfection. In the reinfection model the auto-anti-Id continued to persist throughout the remaining 3 months of the study. As auto-anti-Id antibodies to anti-fibronectin antibodies were demonstrable also in reinfected animals, our findings raise questions concerning the possible role of the anti-Id in modulating the Id expression of both T. pallidum-specific and autoimmune humoral responses.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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Baughn
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000276:immunology; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005353:Fibronectins; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G