Antibody catalysis based on functional mimicry

Approaches aiming at eliciting antibodies (Abs) that catalyze specific chem ical transformations are numerous. Most of the developed methods are based on the chemical steps of the reaction catalyzed rather than on the structur e of known enzyme active sites. The authors have developed an approach that rests on the mimicry properties of the idiotypic network of immune regulat ion. Recent results, together with the existence of natural catalytic Abs i n autoimmune diseases, indicate the need to better understand the regulatio n properties of immune response, in order to improve the efficiency of tail or-made catalytic Abs.