CROSS-REACTIVE IDIOTYPES ON RABBIT ANTI-SEA ANTIBODIES STIMULATE ANTIIDIOTYPE SPLEEN AND LYMPH-NODE CELL RESPONSES OF MICE INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI

Antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigens (SEA) generated in outbred rabbits from two different sources were used to study cros s-reactive idiotype/antiidiotype (Id/anti-Id) interactions in S. manso ni-infected mice in two different locations. Immunoaffinity purified r abbit polyclonal anti-SEA antibody preparations (RabId) were predomina ntly Ig by SDS-PAGE and demonstrated anti-SEA activity by ELISA and We stern blot. RabId prepared from three separate rabbits and used at 40 mu g/ml in vitro stimulated lymphocyte proliferative responses of sple en cells from mice with eight week infections (Mean +/- SEM [E-CI]) of 3869 +/- 764, 18 594 +/- 3046 and 8962 +/- 1734 cpm. Spleen cells fro m uninfected mice Exposed to the same RabId preparations in vitro had respective [EC] values of 206 +/- 144, 494 +/- 154 and 363 +/- 180. Ly mph node cells from mice infected from 8 weeks demonstrated [E-C] of 1 23 +/- 400, 5073 +/- 828 and 2361 +/- 656 upon exposure to these 3 Rab Id preparations. Lymph node cells from uninfected mice had [E-C] of 22 0 +/- 76, 194 +/- 82 and 143 +/- 72 when exposed to these Rabid. Maxim um in vitro proliferative response to Ig from unimmunized rabbits was 761 +/- 400 by spleen cells from mice with eight week infections. Thes e data indicate the presence of cross-reactive Id on rabbit anti-SEA a ntibodies from different rabbits that can stimulate in vitro lymphopro liferative responses of spleen or lymph node cells from S. mansoni-inf ected mice.