Some studies on idiotypes and anti-idiotypic reactions and receptors in anti-allo-MHC T-cell immunity.

The fine specificity of immunocompetent T lymphocytes is reflected on their outer surface by their display of idiotype-positive receptor molecules. Interference with these structures using antiidiotypic reagents may trigger or eliminate the cell depending on the external conditions. When analyzing the distribution pattern of idiotypes on murine allo-MHC activated T blasts it was found that proliferating "helper" T and killer T cells display non-overlapping sets of idiotypes. Furthermore, it was found that antiidiotypic antibodies in vitro may mimic the allo-MHC antigens in the T-cell triggering capacity and may indeed in some systems be superior to allogeneic stimulator cells in this regard. This capacity of antiidiotypic antibodies to functionally mimic and replace allo-MHC structures in T-cell triggering ability is discussed in relation to self-MHC reactivity and biochemical and functional similarities between Ig molecules and MHC structures.