A common idiotype expressed on a murine anti-Sm monoclonal antibody and antibodies in SLE sera.

A rabbit anti-idiotypic antiserum made against a murine monoclonal anti-Sm autoantibody (Y2) was used in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay to investigate idiotypic cross-reactivity among anti-Sm antibodies present in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Sera from 25 of 51 SLE patients (49%) containing anti-Sm antibodies were positive for this Y2 idiotype compared to only one of 22 normal human sera. Nine of 28 SLE patients (32%) whose sera were anti-Sm negative were also positive for the Y2 idiotype in low titre. Binding was not due to rheumatoid factor-like activity but was specific for the Y2 determinant and could be eliminated by absorption with Y2 monoclonal antibodies. The anti-idiotypic antibody blocked the ability of 12 of 25 anti-Sm positive lupus sera to bind Sm. Conversely, Sm antigen inhibited the binding of anti-idiotypic antibody in nine of 12 lupus sera.