title: Autoantibodies of various specificities encoded by genes from the VH J558 family bind to foreign antigens and share idiotopes of antibodies specific for self and foreign antigens.
abstract: We examined the binding to foreign antigens and the expression of crossreactive idiotypes by a panel of 20 murine monoclonal autoantibodies encoded by V genes from the VH J558 family. 9 of 20 antibodies bound to foreign antigens such as bacterial polysaccharides, poly(Glu50, Tyr50), poly(Glu54,Lys37,Phe9), arsonate, and lysozyme, known to interact with antibodies encoded by genes from the VH J558 family. A high proportion of our panel of autoantibodies expressed crossreactive idiotypes originally borne by monoclonal rheumatoid factors, anti-Sm, and anti-DNA antibodies, all encoded by V genes from the VH J558 family. Some of these VH J558+ autoantibodies shared crossreactive idiotypes with VH J558+ antibodies directed against foreign antigens such as influenza virus hemagglutinin, poly(Glu60,Ala30,Tyr10), arsonate, and dextran. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the process of activation of self-reactive clones.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005796:Genes; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D011134:Polysaccharides; D009113:Muramidase