Idiotypic relationships among anti-p-azophenylarsonate antibodies: shared public idiotopes among A-strain minor CRI and BALB/c CRIc.

Four monoclonal antibodies, each previously categorized as a member of the minor cross-reactive idiotypes of the A/J anti-p-azophenylarsonate (Ar) response, have been subjected to a detailed study of their idiotopes. All four were found to share at least one common public idiotope, with other public idiotopes expressed on some and not others of these antibodies. These CRIm were compared with 7 monoclonal anti-Ar derived from BALB/c mice that have been previously found to bear idiotopes of the BALB/c CRIc. Considerable homology of public idiotopes was demonstrated between the 4 A/J CRIm and 5 of the BALB/c CRIc(+) anti-Ar referred to as the 5AF6 family. The implications of these findings with respect to the structural basis and regulation of these idiotypes are discussed.