Quantitative analyses of immune network components.
Polyclonal immune network antibodies were quantitated and characterized in a syngeneic BALB/c murine system. Immunizations of BALB/c antifluorescein mAb 9-40 conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, produced anti-Id (anti-9-40, 39 to 190 micrograms/ml) as well as anti-fluorescein (anti-Fl, 12 to 109 micrograms/ml). Separately, immunizations of polyclonal anti-9-40, developed significant anti-Fl serum levels in the secondary (2 degrees) response (50 to 270 micrograms/ml), which decreased in the 3 degrees response (50 to 180 micrograms/ml) and thereafter, although levels of 9-40 idiotypically related antibodies increased. Polyclonal 2 degrees anti-anti-9-40 exhibited variant anti-Fl active sites, was antigenically more cross-reactive than polyclonal 2 degrees anti-Fl, but did not exhibit affinity maturation for fluorescein relative to 1 degrees anti-anti-9-40. In addition, the 9-40 idiotype constituted a small (less than 1.0%) percent of the 2 degrees and 3 degrees anti-Fl (ab1) immune response. When viewed within the context of an antigenic system that possesses widely diverse idiotypy, continued introduction of polyclonal anti-Id appears eventually to: 1) induce polyclonal ab3 with quantitative expression of idiotypically related antibodies in preference to ab3 of ancestral (9-40) antigenic specificity, 2) relative to ab1, induce a 100-fold increase in the level of ab3 antibodies that have both ancestral idiotype and ancestral antigen reactivity, and 3) induce polyclonal ab3 antibodies with a measurably wider range of antigenic reactivities than those of polyclonal ab1. These quantitative data may reflect the natural state of an immune network in a diverse antigenic response.
Lacy
M J
MJ
Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Dombrink-Kurtzman
M A
MA
Voss
E W
EW
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000032:analysis; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007106:Immune Sera; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate