Properties of a minor cross-reactive idiotype associated with anti-p-azophenylarsonate antibodies of A/J mice.

Experiments are described that further characterize an A/J anti-phenylarsonate (anti-Ar) antibody population, which is idiotypically cross-reactive within the strain but differs from the family of antibodies expressing the major cross-reactive idiotype (CRI). This population has been designated as expressing a "minor" cross-reactive idiotype. Chain recombination studies with hybridoma products (HP) revealed that 2 of 3 HP expressing minor idiotypic determinants contain L chains that are idiotypically closely related to L chains in anti-Ar antibodies bearing the major CRI. The results indicate the expression of the same or very similar L chains in antibodies that differ in idiotype. The minor idiotypic population in serum was investigated by separating antibodies with minor and major idiotypic determinants by use of an immunoadsorbent containing anti-idiotype directed to an HP expressing the major CRI. Studies with the nonadherent, minor idiotypic population showed that such molecules constitute about 8 to 10% of the anti-Ar antibodies in a pool of serum but that individual sera vary markedly in their content of anti-Ar antibodies bearing minor idiotypes. Preinoculation of mice with conventional anti-idiotypic antiserum before immunization with KLH-Ar was found to suppress the appearance of the minor idiotypes as well as the major CRI upon subsequent immunization. The suppression of the minor idiotypic population is presumably mediated by the small fraction of rabbit anti-id antibodies directed against such molecules.