An anti-idiotypic antibody against Graves' IgG.

Rabbit antibodies were raised against Graves' IgG adsorbed onto a TSH-receptor affinity and eluted thereof by [3H]NaCl. The rabbit serum absorbed against normal human IgG (ARI) still bound to Graves', control and Hashimoto's IgG preparations but in the latter two, binding was inhibited by bTSH (10 mU/ml). In addition, ARI stimulated thyroid cell cyclic AMP accumulation in both human and rat thyroid cells. The ARI preparation may, therefore, contain an "internal image" anti-idiotype causing thyroid (Ab2) stimulation, a Graves' disease specific anti-idiotype whose binding with Ab2 inhibits its ability to bind TSH and anti-anti-idiotype (Ab3) to "internal image" Ab2. In further studies, Graves' specific cross-reactive idiotype was found in 10/11 IgGs from patients with active Graves' disease. This study emphasizes the workings of Jerne's immunologic network and the complexity of polyclonal "anti-idiotypic" antibodies.