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Anti‐Idiotypic Immunity in Autoimmunity a
Author(s) -
BIGAZZI PIERLUIGI E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1986.tb20857.x
Subject(s) - autoimmunity , idiotype , immunology , autoantibody , autoimmune disease , antibody , immunoglobulin idiotypes , medicine , monoclonal antibody
It has been hypothesized that autoimmune disease may result from a derangement of the idiotype-anti-idiotype network. However, the evidence in favor of a role of anti-idiotypic immunity in autoimmunity is still scarce. For this reason, we have investigated animal models of autoimmune thyroiditis and glomerulonephritis, addressing the following questions: Are autoimmune responses idiotypically heterogeneous? Are auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies detectable in autoimmunity? Is it possible to demonstrate quantitative or qualitative changes in idiotypic and anti-idiotypic lymphocytes during the course of autoimmune disease? To date, results obtained in our laboratory may be summarized as follows: Cross-reacting idiotypes were present on human and animal autoantibodies; Circulating auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies were not detected in any of the models studied; Changes in idiotypic and anti-idiotypic lymphocytes were observed in animals with autoimmune disease.