The main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors does not provoke the formation of antibodies of a predominant idiotype.
Anti-idiotype antibodies were induced in rats by immunization with rat monoclonal antibodies to the main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors. These anti-idiotype antibodies showed very little crossreaction with other rat monoclonal antibodies which bind to the same region of the receptor. When the rats producing these anti-idiotype antibodies were immunized with receptor, they showed no net decrease in anti-receptor antibody production. These data indicate that, although more than half of the antibodies produced by rats immunized with receptor are directed at a small region, many anti-receptor idiotypes are involved in this response and anti-idiotype therapy is not beneficial.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic