A dominant idiotype in the antibody response against the influenza virus hemagglutinin. Serum and in situ analyses.

PY206 is an Id associated with a BALB/c murine mAb described as being specific for the influenza A virus hemagglutinin. However, production of this Id by BALB/c mice immunized with influenza is low. This report shows that the PY206 Id is a dominant component of the anti-influenza antibody response in C57BL/6J strain mice infected intranasally with the influenza A/Hong Kong/168/(H3N2)[R] X-31 virus. High PY206 Id expression was linked to the IgHb Ig allotype locus. PY206 Id+ antibody-forming cells were identified in situ in cryostat sections of lymphoid tissues and idiotypic heterogeneity was identified among PY206+ B cells. Uninfected adult C57BL/6J mice had PY206 Id in their serum that lacked influenza binding specificity. In situ analysis of prenatal and neonatal spleen of uninfected C57BL/6J mice showed that the expansion of PY206 Id+ B cells occurred early in development. PY206+ cells were demonstrated in the lungs of influenza-infected mice but not in normal mice, establishing the capability to study this B cell population in the lung. This model offers the opportunity to manipulate the anti-influenza A virus hemagglutinin B cell response and to study the proliferation and migration of influenza-specific B cells in their native tissue environments.