Immune Network Theory Research Articles

Symmetry of effector function in the immune system network

Symmetry in antibody plus complement mediated killing between a T15 idiotype-bearing monoclonal antibody (HPC-M2) and an anti-T15 monoclonal antibody (B36-82) is demonstrated. The HPC-M2 antibody is also shown to be multispecific in its effector function, since it lyses both phosphoryleholine coated erythrocytes, and B36-82 Fab coated red blood cells. The symmetry and multispecificity in effector function are presented as new evidence against the concept that the paratope of antibody molecule exists as a uniquely defined site on the antibody variable region. A theoretical consequence for immune system network theory is that the anti-idiotypic set and the internal image are functionally equivalent, the results support symmetric network models of regulation, and are evidence against asymmetric models.

Internal images of antigens within the immune network.

The variable regions of antibody molecules react with each other via specific recognition of clonally distributed antigenic determinants, known under the general term of idiotypes. The totality of such interactions determines a special behavior of the immune system, as a whole, and its ability to regulate immune responses has been analyzed by the 'immune network theory' of Jerne [5]. In light of this theory, a particular property of idiotypes appears to be of special interest: as revealed by recent experiments, frequently idiotype-like determinants represent internal images of antigens. These internal images can be topochemical copies of nominal non-self antigenic determinants, of various functional non-lymphoid receptors, or of transplantation antigens. In this article, we present a view according to which internal images are essential structures which mediate cellular interactions leading to the selection and conservation of the immune repertoire of T and B lymphocytes. Our opinion is exposed in the context of experimental data obtained in several laboratories, including ours.