Monoclonal idiotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies produced by immunization with peptides specified by a region of human myelin basic protein mRNA and its complement

Abstract

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) selective for an idiotope on a monoclonal antibody (IgG 1/kappa) to human myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide 80–89 were prepared by immunization with a synthetic decapeptide specified by RNA that is complementary to the mRNA for human MBP peptide 80–89. The monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-ID) reacted with the MAb to human MBP peptide 80–89 but not with a MAb to bovine MBP peptide 79–88 or to murine myeloma IgG 1. The reaction between the monoclonal anti-ID and the MAb to the human MBP peptide 80–89 could be inhibited by human MBP peptide 80–89 and to a more limited degree with human MBP peptide 76–85 and bovine MBP peptide 79–88, but not by human MBP peptides 69–81 and 85–96. Practically, the use of a complementary peptide for stimulating an anti-ID response permits a more selective and feasible method for peparing anti-ID reagents. Theoretically, these results provide further support for the molecular basis of the network hypothesis.