Complementary idiotypy in the regulation of the immune response.

A new concept is presented for the interactions of two complementary antibodies in the immune response. These antibodies bind to each other by means of their variable sequence determinants and therefore are designated as complementary idiotypes. Under certain conditions, both complementary idiotypes are produced by the same animal at the same time. An idiotype can drastically affect the expression of the complementary idiotype in the animal, inducing a peripheral quench effect of antibody-binding activity and a central effect on the immunocompetent cell, which produces the complementary idiotype. It is proposed that complementary idiotypes might be induced during every immune response, thus playing an essential role in the regulation of the immune response.