title: A single VH-gene associated with a variety of D- and J-segments encodes for a large family of ABPC48-related antibodies induced by antiidiotypic immunization.
abstract: Two series of monoclonal antibodies have been obtained from BALB/c mice immunized against two antiABPC48 antiidiotypic antibodies. They are divided into two serologically different classes. Class I antibodies bind only the immunizing antibody; class II antibodies display a broad binding capacity to various antiidiotypic antibodies, and some bind levan, as does ABPC48. Northern blot analyses and partial mRNA sequencing show that all class II antibodies express the VH-gene coding for ABPC48 and UPC10 antilevan antibodies associated with a variety of D- and J-segments. The third hypervariable region of the sequenced antibody with antilevan activity is structurally related to that of ABPC48 and UPC10 antibodies but has a different genetic origin. This study indicates that the identification of idiotype-related antibodies arising from antiidiotypic immunization may be misleading, if based on their antigen-binding properties; and it stresses the importance of structural approaches for the analysis of regulatory mechanisms ruling immune responses.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001483:Base Sequence; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007114:Immunization; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D012333:RNA, Messenger