title: Anti-idiotypic immunity in autoimmunity.
abstract: It has been hypothesized that autoimmune disease may result from a derangement of the idiotype-anti-idiotype network. However, the evidence in favor of a role of anti-idiotypic immunity in autoimmunity is still scarce. For this reason, we have investigated animal models of autoimmune thyroiditis and glomerulonephritis, addressing the following questions: Are autoimmune responses idiotypically heterogeneous? Are auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies detectable in autoimmunity? Is it possible to demonstrate quantitative or qualitative changes in idiotypic and anti-idiotypic lymphocytes during the course of autoimmune disease? To date, results obtained in our laboratory may be summarized as follows: Cross-reacting idiotypes were present on human and animal autoantibodies; Circulating auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies were not detected in any of the models studied; Changes in idiotypic and anti-idiotypic lymphocytes were observed in animals with autoimmune disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011915:Rats, Inbred BUF / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes