title: Manipulation of idiotype networks in autoimmunity.
abstract: The spontaneous occurrence of anti-idiotypes associated with the amelioration of disease activity in some autoimmune disorders encourages the view that one may be able to develop a therapeutic strategy based upon manipulation of idiotype networks. Attempts to abrogate autoimmunity by using heterologous anti-idiotype reagents have been rather disappointing and there may well be an expansion of idiotype-negative antibody clones. We argue that idiotypic reagents based on T cells or antibodies derived from the species being treated are more likely to lead to success because they interact more profoundly with the individual's own networks than do heterologous antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Roitt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes