Characterization of minor and major idiotopes associated with human antibodies to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.

Human antibodies to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) were analysed by conventional and monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies. These were prepared to the antibody secreted by the human lymphoblastoid cell line B17 and to the antibody isolated from an individual serum containing a prominent clonotype 1A, both with specificity for GlcNAc. Idiotypes and idiotopes associated with these antibodies have the following properties: 1) their frequency of expression in the human population varies between rare (approximately 1.5%) and frequent (greater than 80%); 2) they have a high degree of association with antibody specificity for GlcNAc (50-100%); 3) each idiotope appears to be expressed independently of others; 4) one idiotope may be associated with a variety of clonotypes; and 5) idiotopes can be identified which are both frequently expressed in the population and associated with major proportions of the antibodies in single individuals. These latter idiotopes may be useful for studies on the modulation of human immune responses by antiidiotypic antibodies.