title: Idiotypes and autoimmunity.
abstract: By the analysis of hybridomas constructed from B cells early in development we have shown that: (i) the early neonatal B cell repertoire consists of a highly autoreactive set of B cells showing extensive multispecificity and interconnectivity; (ii) many of these antibodies express anti-idiotypic activity towards autologous germline-encoded idiotypic antibodies; (iii) the anti-idiotypic activities of such B cells and/or their antibody products play a major role in establishing the clonal dominance of certain well-characterized idiotypes in the responses to phosphorylcholine (PC) and alpha 1----3 dextran; and (iv) results obtained in comparisons between antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor and alpha 1----3 dextran in humans and mice showed extensive idiotypic connectivity. Some of the anti-idiotypic specificities involved were also apparent in the neonatally derived antibodies. These results suggest that there are extensive idiotype-directed interactions between B cells early in development which appear to be essential for establishing the adult B cell repertoire and the accompanying clonal dominance of appropriate idiotypes. Similar interactions may also play a role in the development of certain autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vakil
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes