Idiotypic-anti-idiotypic B cell interactions generated against a protective antigen of a morbillivirus in mice

The idiotypic network theory (N. K. Jerne, Ann, Immunol. 125, 373-389, 1974 ) predicts that any antibody that can be made by an individual would have i ts preexisting specific complementary B cells in its germline repertoire. W e transplanted syngeneic BALB/c mice with live hybridoma cells and demonstr ated the simultaneous presence of interacting idiotypic and anti-idiotypic B cells in an individual animal by immuno-cytoadherence assays, Furthermore , we demonstrate that interacting B cells displaying idiotypic and anti-idi otypic antibodies are subjected to lysis by complement. It is therefore tem pting to speculate that this complement-sensitive interaction between idiot ypic and complementary anti-idiotypic B cells in vivo may provide a mechani sm for the regulation of B cell populations. (C) 2001 Academic Press.