Human immune response against timothy grass pollen allergens. I. Shared idiotypes on human and murine antigen-B-specific lymphocyte receptors.

Enzyme-linked immunoassays were used to examine the binding specificity of affinity-purified anti-idiotypic antibody [against the idiotypic determinant on timothy grass pollen antigen B (AgB)-specific IgE] with murine AgB-specific IgG and IgE antibodies, and the serum from timothy-sensitive patients. In addition, the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from timothy-sensitive patients with either antigen or anti-idiotypic antibody was examined. These studies suggest that the idiotypic determinant expressed on murine AgB-specific IgE is highly conserved on human AgB-specific IgE and T cells of timothy-sensitive patients.