Murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies with an absolute specificity for DNA have a large amount of idiotypic diversity.

Abstract

The clonal heterogeneity of 9 monoclonal antibodies with absolute specificities for DNA was analyzed. These monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies were generated in 3 different fusion experiments using autoimmune (NZB .times. NZW)F1 mouse spleen cells. Isoelectric focusing analyses demonstrated different isoelectric points within the IgG2a and IgG2b subclasses. Three anti-idiotypic antisera were prepared (1 in a rabbit and 2 in mice) against 2 monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies. These antisera detected idiotypic determinants uniquely associated with homologous hybridoma anti-DNA antibodies. Of these idiotypes, 2 could be detected at low levels in the sera of (NZB .times. NZW) F1 mice. Anti-PME77 idiotypic antiserum had no effect in vitro on the total binding capacity of (NZB .times. NZW)F1 sera. In (NZB .times. NZW)F1 mice, the anti-DNA antibody repertoire contains molecules that show similar antigen-binding characteristics but are not structurally uniform.