Intrastrain recurrent idiotypes among anti‐DNA antibodies of (NZB X NZW)F1 hybrid mice

Abstract

Immunization of NZB and A/J mice against an anti‐DNA hybridoma antibody (F227) derived from (NZB x NZW)F₁ (B/W) mice allowed the preparation of two anti‐idiotype antisera. These two reagents were shown to recognize different idiotopes of the F227 monoclonal antibody. NZB anti‐idiotypic antibodies recognized non‐ligand‐modifiable idiotypic determinants. These idiotopes were private or present at undetectable level in BW mouse sera since it was found that only two of the 24 B/W mouse sera tested were recognized by these antibodies. Conversely, A/J anti‐idiotypic antibodies recognized partially ligand‐modifiable idiotopes which were found in all B/W mouse sera tested. These results demonstrate that anti‐DNA antibodies share similar idiotypic specificities and suggest that these autoantibodies occur as families of structurally related proteins.