Biomaterial Database

Regulation of immunity by anti-idiotypic antibodies. 1987

H Wigzell

Department of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

The immune system is under control by idiotypic-anti-idiotypic regulation. This control can operate according to dose of antigen, age of the individual, route of administration etc. and function as a specific stimulator or inhibitor of immune reactivity against a defined antigen. Data already exist to justify the statement that our immune system contains within itself all foreign structures against which it can react in the form of anti-idiotypic receptors. These "foreign" structures as displayed at the anti-idiotypic level may be more or less like their true counterparts outside the body and can serve as immunogen, for instance as vaccines. The regulation of immune reactivity via idiotypic interactions may also serve as a potent regulatory of fetal-neonatal immune reactivity causing it to resemble that of the mother. Potential clinical use of auto-anti-idiotypic immunity can thus be foreseen both with regard to elimination of unwanted immune reactivity as well as induction of wanted immunity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007108	Immune Tolerance	The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (fetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc.	Immunosuppression (Physiology),Immunosuppressions (Physiology),Tolerance, Immune
D007130	Immunoglobulin Idiotypes	Unique genetically-controlled determinants present on ANTIBODIES whose specificity is limited to a single group of proteins (e.g., another antibody molecule or an individual myeloma protein). The idiotype appears to represent the antigenicity of the antigen-binding site of the antibody and to be genetically codetermined with it. The idiotypic determinants have been precisely located to the IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGION of both immunoglobin polypeptide chains.	Idiotypes, Immunoglobulin,Ig Idiotypes,Idiotype, Ig,Idiotype, Immunoglobulin,Idiotypes, Ig,Ig Idiotype,Immunoglobulin Idiotype
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D002999	Clone Cells	A group of genetically identical cells all descended from a single common ancestral cell by mitosis in eukaryotes or by binary fission in prokaryotes. Clone cells also include populations of recombinant DNA molecules all carrying the same inserted sequence. (From King & Stansfield, Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Clones,Cell, Clone,Cells, Clone,Clone,Clone Cell
D000888	Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic	Antibodies which react with the individual structural determinants (idiotopes) on the variable region of other antibodies.	Anti-Antibodies,Anti-Idiotype Antibodies,Antibodies, Internal Image,Antigamma Globulin Antibodies,Antiglobulins,Anti Antibodies,Anti-gamma Globulin Antibodies,Anti Idiotype Antibodies,Anti gamma Globulin Antibodies,Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies,Antibodies, Anti,Antibodies, Anti Idiotypic,Antibodies, Anti-Idiotype,Antibodies, Anti-gamma Globulin,Antibodies, Antigamma Globulin,Globulin Antibodies, Anti-gamma,Globulin Antibodies, Antigamma,Image Antibodies, Internal,Internal Image Antibodies
D000916	Antibody Diversity	The phenomenon of immense variability characteristic of ANTIBODIES. It enables the IMMUNE SYSTEM to react specifically against the essentially unlimited kinds of ANTIGENS it encounters. Antibody diversity is accounted for by three main theories: (1) the Germ Line Theory, which holds that each antibody-producing cell has genes coding for all possible antibody specificities, but expresses only the one stimulated by antigen; (2) the Somatic Mutation Theory, which holds that antibody-producing cells contain only a few genes, which produce antibody diversity by mutation; and (3) the Gene Rearrangement Theory, which holds that antibody diversity is generated by the rearrangement of IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGION gene segments during the differentiation of the ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CELLS.	Germ Line Theory,Antibody Diversities,Diversities, Antibody,Diversity, Antibody,Germ Line Theories,Theories, Germ Line,Theory, Germ Line
D000937	Antigen-Antibody Reactions	The processes triggered by interactions of ANTIBODIES with their ANTIGENS.	Antigen Antibody Reactions,Antigen-Antibody Reaction,Reaction, Antigen-Antibody,Reactions, Antigen-Antibody
D001323	Autoantibodies	Antibodies that react with self-antigens (AUTOANTIGENS) of the organism that produced them.	Autoantibody