Investigation of a syngeneic murine model for the study of IgE antibody regulation with isologous antiidiotypic antibodies.

A murine experimental model to study in vivo effects of antiidotypic antibodies (aId) on the benzylpenicilloyl- (BPO) ane phosphorylcholine- (PC) specific IgE and IgG responses has been investigated. Isologous aId against anti-BPO antibodies and against the PC-specific myeloma proteins T15 and M167 have been administered to BALB/c mice previously sensitized with (BPO) carrier protein or PC keyhole limpet hemocyanin. One single injection of aId caused depression of anti-BPO IgE antibody levels for 2-3 weeks, whereas the anticarrier protein IgE response had not been affected. Longterm depression of anti-Pc IgE was achieved when anti-T15 antiserum has been administered three time to PC keyhole limpet hemocyanin immunized mice. Suppression of anti-BPO IgE and IgG antibodies has been achieved for a long period in mice actively producing anti-BPO aId. These results show that different individuals of the BALB/c mouse strain share major idiotypic determinants in IgE and IgG antibodies and the IgE antibody formation is accessible to suppression by isologous aId. These findings permit to integrate IgE regulation into the basic concepts of autologous immune regulation and might finally lead to applications in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic syndromes.