In vivo effects of antibodies to immune response gene products. I. Haplotype-specific suppression of humoral immune responses with a monoclonal anti-I-A.

Immune response (Ir) gene products control immunologic function at several critical sites. We administered in vivo a monoclonal antibody reactive with I-Ak to F1 mice with the genotype H-2k/b. These treated mnice made a markedly reduced antibody response to antigen (H,G)-A--L, under the control of I-Ak, but not to antigen (T,G)-A--L, under the control of I-Ab. This relative specificity was lost if the antigen was given in complete Freund's adjuvant rather than aqueous solution. The monoclonal antibody reduced the antibody titer in an ongoing, secondary response as well. Several potential mechanisms can be postulated for this effect. This haplotypic specificity might ultimately be relevant to human disease.