Open AccessEvidence of idiotypic modulation in the immune response to gp43, the major antigenic component of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in both mice and humans
Author(s) -
Angela Rico de Souza,
J.-L. Gesztesi,
Jane Zveiter de Moraes,
C R B Cruz,
Jun Sato,
Mário Mariano,
José Daniel Lopes
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1998.00679.x
Subject(s) - paracoccidioides brasiliensis , paracoccidioidomycosis , biology , antigen , immune system , immunology , antibody , paracoccidioides , immunization , microbiology and biotechnology , spleen , epitope , virology
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America, with a high prevalence in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. The aetiologic agent of disease is a thermal dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis . A glycoprotein of 43 000 D (gp43) is the major antigen of P. brasiliensis . Antibodies directed to this antigen are detected in the sera of all patients with PCM. Gp43 binds to laminin, thus participating in adhesion, invasion and pathogenesis of the fungus. As the role of antibodies in PCM is not fully understood, we decided to investigate the outcome of mice immunization with three distinct anti‐gp43 MoAbs (17c, 8a and 24a) coupled with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Results show not only the expected presence of anti‐Id (AB2) antibodies in the sera of these animals but also a spontaneous and increasing amount of anti‐anti‐Id (AB3) antibodies after the third course of immunization. Hybridomas producing both AB2 and AB3 MoAbs were obtained using spleen cells from mice immunized with MoAb 17c. AB3 MoAbs were also obtained with spleen cells of mice immunized with MoAbs 8a and 24a. It was also shown that human PCM patients' sera with high titres of anti‐gp43 antibodies generate anti‐Id antibodies. These data suggest that the immune response to P. brasiliensis can be spontaneously modulated by the idiotypic network.