title: Idiotype, anti-idiotype network of autoantibodies: pathogenetic considerations and clinical application.
abstract: A common serologic finding in autoimmune diseases is the presence of autoantibodies against intracellular autoantigens. Recent data suggest that an anti-idiotypic network exists in these diseases, regulating the production of autoantibodies (idiotypic response). The anti-idiotypic antibodies can be monitored using complementary epitopes, designed according to the “molecular recognition” theory. The role of antiidiotypic antibodies in neonatal lupus and type 1 diabetes are discussed. In neonatal lupus, mothers with high anti-idiotypic antibody activity against anti-La autoantibodies are at lower risk of giving birth to an un-healthy child, as compared with mothers without anti-idiotypic antibodies. Similarly,the lack of particular anti-idiotypic antibodies against anti-GAD65 autoantibodies predispose in type 1 diabetes. These findings imply that antiidiotypic antibodies may confer protection from the harmful effect of autoantibodies in certain autoimmune diseases [corrected].
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 75, M. Asias st 11527 Athens, Greece. agtzi@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tzioufas
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Routsias
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes