Idiotype vaccines against human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I. Generation and characterization of biologically active monoclonal anti-idiotopes.

A murine monoclonal anti-tumor antibody termed SN2 (Ab1), isotype IgG1-kappa, that defines a unique human T cell leukemia-associated cell-surface glycoprotein, gp37 (m.w. 37,000), was used to generate monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) in syngeneic BALB/c mice. The Ab2 were screened on the basis of their binding to the F(ab')2 fragments of SN2 and not to the F(ab')2 of pooled normal BALB/c mice sera IgG1 or to an unrelated BALB/c monoclonal antibody of the same isotype. Fifteen Ab2, obtained from two fusions, were specific for the SN2 idiotope and not against isotype or allotype determinants. To find out whether these Ab2 are directed against the paratope of SN2, the binding of radiolabeled SN2 to leukemic MOLT-4 and JM cells which contain gp37 as a surface constituent was studied in the presence of these anti-idiotopes. Clone 4EA2 inhibited the binding 100% at a concentration of 50 ng and 4DC6 inhibited 90% at a concentration of 250 ng. A third clone 4DD6 gave about 50% inhibition. Similar was the inhibition of SN2 binding to insolubilized MOLT-4 antigen or cell membrane preparation. The binding of SN2 (Ab1) to 4EA2 and 4DC6 was also inhibited by semipurified preparation of gp37 antigen. These results demonstrate that at least two of the anti-idiotope antibodies are binding either at or near the binding site idiotope of SN2. Next, the purified Ab2 was used to immunize syngeneic mice to induce antibody binding to MOLT-4 cells or gp37. Sera from mice immunized with 4EA2 and 4DC6 coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin contained antibodies which bind to semipurified gp37 antigen and MOLT-4 cells. Immune sera inhibited the binding of iodinated Ab2 and Ab1 indicating that an anti-anti-idiotopic antibody (Ab3) in mice shares idiotopes with Ab1 (SN2). Also, the binding of iodinated Ab2 to Ab1 was inhibited by rabbit antisera specific for gp37. Collectively, these data suggest that anti-idiotype antibodies 4EA2 and 4DC6 may be useful in the generation of idiotype vaccines against human T cell leukemia.