An inherited restriction in the idiotypic variability as a possible explanation of a genetic predisposition for a monoclonal component.
Genetic factors have been proposed to play a role in the aetiology of a monoclonal proliferation of B lymphocytes. As an additional genetic factor we postulate that a restriction in the idiotypic variability of an individual contributes to a genetic predisposition to monoclonal gammopathy. To support our hypothesis, we have examined three families with multiple occurrence of M-components for sharing of idiotypic antigenicity between the related M-components and between the M-components and the sera of unaffected relatives. Idiotypic antisera against five isolated M-components were raised in guinea-pigs and used in a radiobinding inhibition assay. In none of the three families was idiotypic cross-reactivity observed between the familial M-components. However, in a family with three members with an M-component, sera of first-degree relatives showed a higher inhibitory capacity than sera of non-related individuals when an idiotypic antiserum, raised against the M-component of proposita, was employed. Within this particular family the observed restriction in the idiotypic variability could have contributed to the multiple occurrence of M-components.
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007106:Immune Sera; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011869:Radioligand Assay
D007106:Immune Sera; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains