The servant idiotype network.

Network Antigens are idiotopic markers which are expressed on antibodies of a given specificity. These Network Antigen Idiotopes are part of specific immune responses and are selected through the process of antigen-driven maturation. Their natural role in immunity is the regulation of the response via idiotypic network interaction. The biological power of Network Antigens can be harnessed by generating monoclonal Ab2s against polyclonal disease-derived and specific Ab1. Because network antigens play an important biological role in immunity, it becomes difficult to call the Idiotype Network selfish. We believe that the organization and selection of a small antibody repertoire, which is needed to maintain a disease free existence, is accomplished by the idiotypic network. Furthermore, if we better understand the blueprint of this network we can begin to take advantage of the primed state of clones in the network to intervene, either to stimulate beneficial responses, or to suppress harmful immunities using antibodies which recognize the key organizer and controllers in the network.