Induction of idiotype-bearing, nuclease-specific helper T cells by in vivo treatment with anti-idiotype.

Abstract

Treatment of BALB/c mice with purified pig anti-(BALB/c anti-nuclease) anti-idiotypic antibodies induced the appearance of idiotype-bearing Ig (Id'') in the serum of these mice in the absence of detectable antigen binding activity. This phenomenon appeared to require T cells in the hosts because no Id'' was detected in the serum of nude mice similarly treated. The spleens of BALB/c mice treated with anti-idiotype contained helper T cells capable of providing help in an in vitro plaque-forming cell response to trinitrophenyl-nuclease equivalent to that provided by helper T cells from the spleens of nuclease-primed animals. Helper T cells from anti-idiotype-treated and nuclease-treated animals were antigen-specific and similarly susceptible to elimination by treatment with anti-idiotype plus complement. Treatment with both antigen and anti-idiotype appeared to prime similar populations of antigen-specific helper T cells, while having different effects on the induction of antibody. These findings are consistent with the network theory of receptor interactions in the immune response, and may provide a means for studying individual cell populations involved in such interactions.