title: Isolation of an antiidiotypic antibody with acetylcholine-receptor-like binding properties from myasthenia gravis patients.
abstract: The network theory predicts that a subpopulation within the antiidiotypic (anti-Id) antibody response will be the internal image of the priming stimulus. In myasthenia gravis, a portion of the anti-acetylcholine-receptor (anti-AChR) antibody repertoire is directed against the ligand-binding site. These antibodies would be expected to elicit an "anti-idiotype" which is the internal image of the receptor-binding site and hence may also bind cholinergic ligands. We have utilized this theoretical specificity to isolate anti-Id antibodies with AChR-like ligand-binding properties from the serum of 4 myasthenia gravis patients using a choline affinity column. Affinity-purified antibodies from one patient were characterized and found to exhibit binding properties similar to the AChR for various cholinergic ligands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lefvert
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000378:metabolism; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic