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A study of auto-anti-idiotypes to BSA
1Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Chicken antibodies contain auto-anti-idiotypes (AAI) that recognize specific antibodies within the same serum. These AAI also bind to mouse antibodies, suggesting they act as internal images and are positively selected.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Antibody populations exhibit unique molecular features known as idiotypes (Id).
- Auto-anti-idiotypes (AAI) are antibodies that target an individual's own idiotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate idiotypic relationships between antibody populations across different species.
- To determine if auto-anti-idiotypes (AAI) in chickens act as internal images of antigens.
Main Methods:
- Immune sera were generated in mice and chickens using Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and diphtheria toxoid.
- Avidin-biotin ELISA was employed to quantify idiotypic binding between antibody populations.
- Ag-Sepharose columns were used for co-purification of antibodies and AAI.
Main Results:
- Chicken sera demonstrated the presence of AAI that bound to antigen-specific antibodies within the same serum.
- These chicken AAI cross-reacted specifically with idiotypes in mouse anti-BSA serum.
- Mouse anti-BSA serum inhibited the binding between chicken idiotypes and AAI.
Conclusions:
- The cross-species reactivity of AAI suggests they function as internal image antibodies.
- The findings indicate a positive selection for auto-anti-idiotypes (AAI) to act as internal images in immune responses.