Regulation of immune response by anti-receptor antibody.

A new function of antibodies in the regulation of immune responses is proposed. Antibodies have specific variable sequence determinants which are detected by anti-idiotypic antisera. Anti-idiotypic antibodies can suppress the production of the complementary idiotypic antibody and are, therefore, specific anti-receptor antibodies. Experiments in inbred mice have shown that mutual and reciprocal functional interactions of idiotype and anti-idiotype can occur. These findings give evidence for regulatory mechanisms in the expressions of immune clones by complementary idiotypes.