Open AccessAntibodies to RNA from autoimmune NZB/NZW mice recognize a similar antigenic determinant and show a large idiotypic diversity.
Author(s) -
Dan Eilat,
Malka Hochberg,
Ruth Fischel,
Reuven Laskov
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.79.12.3818
Subject(s) - antibody , idiotype , immunoglobulin idiotypes , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , rna , epitope , papain , biology , antiserum , monoclonal antibody , autoantibody , monoclonal , spleen , paraproteins , immunology , biochemistry , gene , enzyme
We have identified two RNA-specific hybridoma autoantibodies in fusions of spleen cells from unimmunized NZB/NZW female mice with BALB/c myeloma cells. The two fusion experiments were carried out 2 years apart with different myeloma partners. Specificity analyses showed that the two monoclonal antibodies and the total RNA-binding IgG in NZB/NZW serum recognize a G,C-rich sequence of ribonucleotides. The isolated heavy and light chains of the two antibodies and their papain Fab fragments could be distinguished by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies prepared against the two monoclonal proteins showed unique specificities for the antigen-binding sites of their cognate auto-antibodies. Moreover, the anti-idiotypic antisera had little effect on the RNA-binding capacity of the total IgG from NZB/NZW serum. These results suggest that a wide range of different idiotypes is involved in the autoimmune response to a similar antigenic determinant.