title: The human anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein IgM system.
abstract: Two mouse monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies that react with human monoclonal IgM antibodies with specificity for myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) have been used to study the immunological specificity of the reported cross-reactions involving the anti-MAG IgM. Both of the antiidiotypic antibodies are shown to react with the combining site of their respective idiotypic IgM and to inhibit the reaction between IgM and MAG. Using these antiidiotypic antibodies as "surrogate" antigen, we have demonstrated immune cross-reactivity between MAG, a human peripheral nerve glycolipid, and a low-molecular-weight protein of human peripheral nerve myelin. In addition, we have used the two antiidiotypic antibodies to conduct a search for evidence of shared idiotypy among 34 different neuropathy-associated paraproteins. Our results provide no evidence for a neuropathy-associated idiotype, suggesting a degree of polymorphism in the human anti-MAG IgM system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein