Analysis of the cross-reactive anti-gp120 antibody population in human immunodeficiency virus-infected asymptomatic individuals.

This study was undertaken to analyze the specificity and neutralizing properties of cross-reactive anti-gp120 antibodies (Abs) in the sera of two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected asymptomatic individuals. Two panels of murine monoclonal anti-idiotype Abs (anti-id MAbs) were established against cross-reactive polyclonal anti-gp120 Abs purified from HIV+ sera by sequential affinity chromatography using gp120SF2- and gp120IIIB-Sepharose columns. These panels of anti-id MAbs were then used to affinity purify idiotype-positive (Id+) anti-gp120 Abs from HIV+ sera. The recovery of each of these Id+ Abs by purification indicated that several idiotypically distinct cross-reactive anti-gp120 Abs are present in sera over a wide range of concentrations. Immunological and biological studies showed that although all of the Id+ Abs were reactive against gp120SF2 and gp120IIIB, they exhibited unique epitope specificities and distinct neutralizing activities. Most of the Id+ Abs were directed against epitopes in the CD4 attachment site (CD4 site epitopes) of gp120 and exhibited a spectrum of broadly neutralizing activities. On the other hand, a minor population of Id+ Abs showed specificity for the V3 region of gp120 and exhibited limited cross-neutralizing activities. Together, these studies indicate that the CD4 site epitope-specific Abs are heterogeneous with respect to their clonality, neutralizing activity, and concentration in sera. This heterogeneity suggests that anti-gp120 Abs to the CD4 attachment site are developed in response to multiple overlapping epitopes present on the original virus isolate and/or epitopes on mutated variants which emerged over time.

Response of huSCID mice reconstituted with lymphocytes from anti-idiotype-treated melanoma patients.

Severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice were reconstituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal and melanoma patients. The melanoma patients were part of a clinical trial of active immunotherapy with the murine monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody, IMelpgl. IMelpgl represents an idiotypic mimic of the high-molecular-weight melanoma-associated antigen, HMW-MAA. All of the huSCID mice reconstituted fully as evidenced by their production of human immunoglobulins. Furthermore, approximately half of the huSCID mice reconstituted with PBMC from either normal or melanoma patients were able to mount a secondary response to tetanus toxoid. While all of the huSCID mice reconstituted with PBMC from patients undergoing immunotherapy produced strong HAMA responses, only one huSCID mouse responded idiotypically to IMelpgl immunization. These results demonstrate tht the huSCID mouse can be used as an experimental model to monitor and study the response of human B cells derived from patients undergoing active immunotherapy.

Arsonate-specific murine T cell clones. V. Antigen presentation by L cells transfected with normal and mutant class II genes.

Class II-restricted murine T cell clones specific for the immunogenic determinant L-tyrosine-p-azobenzenearsonate failed to proliferate to Ag presented by L cell lines transfected with and expressing the appropriate class II genes, but are activated to kill the APC in an Ag-dependent, MHC-restricted manner. Inhibition of APC proliferation was used as an assay to determine the relative contributions of polymorphic sites on the class II alpha- and beta-chains to MHC-restricted activation of I-A beta k-restricted cloned T cells. Transfectants expressing A beta k in conjunction with the alpha chain of k, u, or d were equally effective APCs, whereas transfectants expressing A beta u were completely ineffective, implicating the beta-chain as more critical for the presentation of L-tyrosine-p-azobenzenearsonate. Site-directed mutagenesis of polymorphic positions in the beta chain revealed a remarkable stringency for the k haplotype, in contrast to the relaxed alpha-chain requirement. These results, in conjunction with others, indicate that the relative contribution of polymorphic sites on class II alpha- and beta-chains to T cell Ag recognition can differ markedly, and, furthermore, may vary as a function of the Ag.

Studies on the clonality of the response to an epitope of a protein antigen. Randomness of activation of epitope-recognizing clones and the development of clonal dominance.

Syngeneic mice immunized with tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP) can differ with respect to their ability to produce antibodies that bind a decapeptide epitope representing residues 103 to 112 of TMVP, and with respect to the fine specificity of the decapeptide binding antibodies as determined by their ability to bind several synthetic analogues of the decapeptide. To elucidate the mechanism responsible for the differences between the syngeneic animals in their ability to make anti-decapeptide antibodies, spleen cells from a large number of naive CSW mice were pooled, and aliquots were transferred (either including or excluding resident T cells) into naive recipients that were subsequently immunized with TMVP. Examination of the frequency and fine specificity of anti-decapeptide antibodies revealed that the recipients exhibited various clonalities of decapeptide binding antibody responses similar to those seen in a normal population of CSW mice. Moreover, the response of each individual mouse was of a restricted clonality despite the availability of a more extensive repertoire of decapeptide-recognizing clones. The results indicate that the selection of the clonality of the antibody response was not determined by the presence (or absence) of particular clones of B or T cells and that the mechanism responsible for generating differences between mice must have acted, subsequent to introduction of the Ag, by activation of a limited number of clones randomly selected by Ag and/or by Ag-driven mutation. The long term nature of the antibody response to the decapeptide epitope was also investigated. The response was shown to be "locked-in" for the life of the immunized individual. Thus, individuals that responded to TMVP but that did not produce antibodies to the decapeptide after the first set of immunizations with TMVP maintained their non-responsiveness to the decapeptide after the second set of immunizations with the protein. However, individuals that responded to an initial set of immunizations with TMVP by producing antibodies to the decapeptide epitope continue to produce antibodies to the decapeptide after a second set of immunizations with TMVP. The fine specificity of the decapeptide-binding antibodies also appeared to be "locked in" throughout the life of the immunized individual. The long term maintenance of the clonability of the antibody response does not appear to be influenced by Ag-specific T cells and is strictly a function of memory B cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Studies on the suppression of the immune response to a defined protein epitope by anti-idiotypic antibodies.

We have previously reported that C3H.SW (CSW) and A/J mice immunized with the tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP) produce antibodies to a decapeptide epitope corresponding to amino acid residues 103-112 of the protein. In the C3H.SW (CSW) strain, the antibodies to the decapeptide contain major crossreactive idiotope, C10-IdX, which is found on a CSW-derived monoclonal antidecapeptide antibody, designated as C10. The in vivo administration of anti-C10 antibodies suppresses the response to the decapeptide epitope in CSW mice. The present communication describes experiments designed to elucidate several parameters responsible for the suppression produced by the in vivo administration of anti-C10. It was found that 50 micrograms of anti-C10 was required to suppress the response to the decapeptide in CSW mice when 2 weeks elapsed between administration of the anti-C10 and immunization with TMVP; however, only 10 ng was required when one injection of antigen instead of two was administered and when the interval between treatment with anti-C10 and immunization was extended to 6 weeks. This suggests that the anti-C10 induces alterations in the idiotypic network which are not yet fully developed after 2 weeks. Furthermore, experiments presented herein demonstrate that decapeptide-binding antibodies from A/J mice, which lack the C10-IdX, were also suppressed by pretreatment with anti-C10. Interestingly, unlike the case with the CSW strain, the titer to TMVP was decreased by the administration of anti-C10 to A/J mice which were subsequently immunized with TMVP. These findings suggest that the polyclonal anti-C10 contains antibodies to an idiotype which is a major component of the overall anti-TMVP response of A/J mice and may be important in the overall regulation of the anti-TMVP response.

The idiotypic characterization of the immune response to a defined epitope of a protein antigen and the specific in vivo suppression of the immune response to this epitope by anti-idiotypic antibodies.

C10, a monoclonal antibody of C3H.SW (CSW) origin, binds a decapeptide epitope of the tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP) representing residues 103-112 of the protein. In vivo administration of syngeneic anti-idiotypic antibodies to C10 (anti-C10) prior to immunization with TMVP suppressed the expression of antibodies to this decapeptide determinant in CSW mice without a significant reduction of the total anti-TMVP titer. The suppression could not be overcome with repeated challenges by antigen even 6 months after administration of anti-C10. Analysis of anti-C10 showed that it contains antibodies to at least two idiotopes found on C10. One of these idiotopes, C10-Idm, is found on a very small fraction of CSW anti-TMVP antibodies capable of binding the decapeptide epitope. The other idiotope, C10-IdX, is found on most of the anti-TMVP antibodies which bind the decapeptide determinant. With synthetic analogues of the decapeptide determinant, a correlation was established between the presence of the C10-IdX and the fine specificity of the decapeptide-binding antibodies. The studies reported herein demonstrate that anti-idiotypic antibodies are potent modulators of the immune response and that the C10-IdX is important in the determination of the fine specificity of antibodies to this decapeptide epitope of TMVP.