Idiotypic analysis of monoclonal antibodies to poly(Glu60Ala30Tyr10).

Abstract

Hybridoma anti-poly(Glu60Ala30Tyr10) (anti-GAT) antibodies (15) were analyzed for the presence of a common set of idiotypic specificities associated with murine anti-GAT antibodies, termed CGAT idiotype, which were present on the anti-GAT antibodies of all mouse strains. Monoclonal anti-GAT antibodies (13) expressed a major fraction of CGAT idiotypic specificities. The remaining fraction of CGAT idiotypic specificities were not detected in individual or pooled hybridoma anti-GAT antibodies. Anti-idiotypic antisera made against each of the 15 hybridoma anti-GAT antibodies preferentially bound homologous ligand and showed minimal binding activity to specifically purified serum anti-GAT antibodies. The diversity of the hybridoma anti-GAT antibodies was demonstrated by the presence of individual idiotypic specificities on each of the hybridoma anti-GAT antibodies. Relatedness among some of the hybridoma antibodies was apparent since idiotypic analysis revealed that some hybridoma anti-GAT antibodies shared cross-reactive idiotypic specificities not associated with CGAT idiotype. The genetic mechanisms which could account for the generation of such antibody diversity were discussed.