title: Cross-reactivity of the NPa and NPb idiotypic responses of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP).
abstract: A comparative antigenic analysis was carried out to determine whether cross-reactivity exists between the major idiotypic responses to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Extensive cross-reactivity exists between the NPa (BALB/c) and NPb (C57BL/6) allotype-linked idiotypic responses to NP. The cross-reactive determinants of the NPb idiotype are confined to one particular group of NPb-positive monoclonal antibodies. The extent of cross-reactivity between this group of C57BL/6 antibodies and idiotype-positive monoclonal antibodies of BALB/c is so great that they cannot be readily distinguished as NPb- or NPa-positive antibodies with polyclonal anti-idiotypic reagents. That this cross-reactivity is not unique to monoclonal antibodies was confirmed by the demonstration of these cross-reactive determinants in the immunesera of individual BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, evidence was obtained from these experiments and from earlier ones from this laboratory which suggests that the BALB/c idiotypic response to NP-protein conjugate is more homogeneous than the C57BL/6 idiotypic responses.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000235:genetics*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005796:Genes; D006241:Haptens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology*; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000276:immunology*; D010648:Phenylacetates
chemical_list: D006241:Haptens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010648:Phenylacetates; C026242:4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl acetic acid