Regulation of immunity by anti-idiotypic antibodies.

The immune system is under control by idiotypic-anti-idiotypic regulation. This control can operate according to dose of antigen, age of the individual, route of administration etc. and function as a specific stimulator or inhibitor of immune reactivity against a defined antigen. Data already exist to justify the statement that our immune system contains within itself all foreign structures against which it can react in the form of anti-idiotypic receptors. These "foreign" structures as displayed at the anti-idiotypic level may be more or less like their true counterparts outside the body and can serve as immunogen, for instance as vaccines. The regulation of immune reactivity via idiotypic interactions may also serve as a potent regulatory of fetal-neonatal immune reactivity causing it to resemble that of the mother. Potential clinical use of auto-anti-idiotypic immunity can thus be foreseen both with regard to elimination of unwanted immune reactivity as well as induction of wanted immunity.