Regulation of myeloma growth in mice by antigen and regulatory idiotopes.

The effect of antigen, activation of normal A48Id+ B-cell clones, and monoclonal antibodies sharing A48-UPC10 regulatory idiotopes on the in vivo growth of spleen adapted ABPC48 myeloma cells has been examined. Immunogenic doses of bacterial levan have no detectable effects, whereas tolerogenic doses substantially delay the growth of the myeloma. The activation of normal A48Id+ B cell clones also has no apparent effect on the growth of the ABPC48 myeloma cells. Among a panel of 15 monoclonal antibodies expressing A48-UPC10 regulatory idiotopes and expressing VH genes derived from the VH441-4 germ line gene family, 5 were able to provide a long lasting but not definitive idiotype specific protection against the ABPC48 myeloma cells.