The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 138, 522-537,
Copyright © 1973 by The Rockefeller University Press
DETECTION OF IDIOTYPIC CROSS-REACTIONS AMONG STREPTOCOCCAL ANTISERA FROM RELATED RABBITS
Thomas J. Kindt 1,
Rochelle K. Seide 1,
Viktor A. Bokisch 1, and
Richard M. Krause 1
1 From The Rockefeller University, New York 10021
Idiotypic cross-reactions among antibodies to Group C streptococcal carbohydrate were studied using idiotypic antisera prepared in allotypically matched rabbits. Antibodies with idiotypic cross-specificity to one proband antibody were detected in 58% of the antisera from related rabbits, while approximately 1% of nonrelated rabbits produced antibody with this specificity. The cross-specificity was related to the group a (VH) allotype of 133 rabbits tested with only one exception.
Studies utilizing antisera against a second proband antibody failed to detect antibodies with idiotypic cross-reactivity among the same group of related rabbits. This result emphasizes the variation in expression of idiotypic determinants of antibodies.
It was further shown that the presence of anti-IgG's in the streptococcal antisera interfere with the detection of idiotypic cross-reactions. These anti-IgG's masked the presence of antibodies with idiotypic cross-specificity when inhibition of precipitation tests were used for their detection.
Submitted on May 4, 1973