The idiotypic network: internal images of rabbit immunoglobulin allotopes.

Internal recognition is a primordial concept in the idiotypic network hypothesis proposed by N. Jerne. The analysis of idiotypic recurrence in rabbit antiallotypic antibodies led us to propose the existence of antiidiotypic molecules Ab2 beta carrying idiotopes which are internal images of the original immunizing allotype. Using mouse monoclonal antibodies, we have shown that the internal image of b6 rabbit allotopes is associated with the internal image of kappa 1 isotypic determinants. The influence of interactions within the idiotypic network on the evolution of the immunological repertoire is discussed.