Functional and biochemical evidence for the recognition of T cell receptors by monoclonal antibodies to an immunoglobulin idiotype.
Sharing of "idiotypes" by T and B cells with similar nominal specificities has been extensively reported in functional assays. The recent molecular characterization of T cell receptors has led to the suggestion that such idiotypic mimicries could result from "network" selection of available T cell repertoires. Alternatively, the validity of the conclusions taken from those functional assays could be questioned. We have now used an experimental system where recurrent expression of antibody idiotypes by T helper cells requires "learning" from the B cell/antibody compartment, and show here that the idiotypic determinants in question are indeed associated with T cell receptor molecules. A monoclonal antibody (F6(51)) directed to an idiotope of the TNP-binding BALB/c myeloma protein MOPC460 specifically inhibits antigen-dependent proliferation and helper activity of BALB/c anti-TNP-BALB/c helper T cells. The anti-idiotypic antibodies also induce IL-2 production by these helper cells and precipitate a surface molecule with characteristics of T cell receptor. We conclude that, in this particular system, T cell receptors and antibodies of similar nominal specificities share idiotypic determinants.
Martínez
C
C
Department of Immunology, Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain.
Bragado
R
R
de la Hera
A
A
Toribio
M L
ML
Marcos
M A
MA
Bandeira
A
A
Pereira
P
P
Coutinho
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell