The fine specificity of regulatory T cells. IV. Idiotypic complementarity and antigen-bridging interactions in the anti-lysozyme response.

The hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL)-specific B cells which are activated in response to HEL share a cross-reactive idiotype as well as submolecular specificity. Helper T cells of two different specificities are implicated in their optimal activation, one recognizing the idiotype and the other, an epitope on the HEL molecule opposite to the one recognized by B cells. Thus, efficient T-B collaboration involves both idiotypic complementary and antigen bridging.