title: The major rheumatoid factor cross-reactive idiotype in rheumatic disease.
abstract: The major rheumatoid factor cross-reactive idiotype (RCRI), a tertiary structure formed by both light and heavy chains, is found on 60% of all monoclonal IgM kappa RFs. To determine if the RCRI is expressed in patients with rheumatic disease, we used polyclonal rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies to detect RCRI in sera and in pokeweed mitogen cultures of blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). We detected increased expression of RCRI+, plasma cells in PWM cultures, and in sera from these patients. We have determined that some 7S IgM molecules from RF+RA patients are RCRI+, and can bind IgG in a sensitive RF ELISA. We have also observed that the CD5+ B cell subset, which is responsible for autoantibody production, generates RCRI+ antibodies. We review these data and discuss the relationship of the idiotypic network of interacting antibodies with rheumatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy/Immunology, Schneider Children's Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y., USA.
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bonagura
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pernis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agostino
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Ilowite
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hatam
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wedgwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011817:Rabbits; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor