Human EBV-transformed lymphocytes of patients with Schistosoma japonicum infection secrete idiotypically related immunoregulatory antibodies.

Lymphocytes derived from the peripheral blood of individuals infected with Schistosoma japonica were transformed in vitro with Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV). Serological characterization of antibody molecules revealed both antigen reactive (idiotypic) and anti-idiotypic transformants. One idiotypic EBV transformant, LO2C2, describes a major cross-reactive idiotype associated with anti-antigen binding molecules. Other antibody populations expressing idiotypic cross-reactivity were derived from separate individuals showing shared idiotypy in S. japonicum field study populations in the Republic of Philippines. Both idiotypic and anti-idiotypic molecules suppressed parasite antigen-driven blastogenesis of heterologous human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The data show a serologically related immunoregulatory immune network in patients in the Republic of the Philippines which is serologically distinct from idiotypy expressed in other selected S. japonicum endemic areas in the Far East.