Induction of an anti-hepatitis B surface antigen response in mice by noninternal image (Ab2 alpha) anti-idiotypic antibodies.

Anti-idiotype antibodies to a mouse monoclonal antibody A-12 directed against HBsAg were produced in rabbits. The anti-Id consisted of an Ab-2 alpha preparation that did not display any detectable internal image activity. Immunization of BALB/c mice with the anti-Id (Ab-2 alpha) coupled to KLH induced an anti-HBs response without subsequent HBsAg exposure. No anti-HBs was detected in control groups of mice immunized with other rabbit anti-Id-KLH preparations. The anti-HBs containing sera from mice immunized with the Ab-2 alpha were able to inhibit the Id-anti-Id reaction, indicating that an Id-positive, anti-HBs response was induced. This idiotype is not normally expressed during the murine immune response to HBsAg and suggests that noninternal image anti-Id activates silent clones. This study, along with our previous results obtained with the use of internal image anti-Id, suggests that there is more than one Id network operational during the BALB/c murine immune response to HBsAg.