CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTI-FAB' ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN-SERA - IDENTIFICATION OF SOLUBLE IMMUNE-COMPLEXES THAT CONTAIN HIDDEN ANTI-KLH AND BLOCKING ANTI-IMMUNOGLOBULINS FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION WITH KEYHOLE LIMPET HEMOCYANIN

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (2) , 497-504
Abstract
After immunization with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), increased concentrations of anti-KLH and anti-Fab'' antibodies (Ab) were demonstrated in sera from 18 of 20 volunteers. In many cases, post-immunization sera contained soluble immune complexes that incorporated both anti-Fab'' and hidden or blocked anti-KLH antibodies. The complexes containing hidden anti-KLH and blocking anti-Fab'' Ab were not found in pre-immunization sera. The hidden Ab to KLH were revealed by demonstrating increases in anti-KLH activity in sera incubated previously with Fab'' fragments, immobilized on plastic microtiter tray wells. Incubation with insoluble Fab'' did not influence the quantity of anti-tetanus toxoid (TT) that was detected in these sera. Addition of affinity purified anti-Fab'' Ab to samples, previously unblocked by adsorption with immobilized Fab'', depressed their anti-KLH activity to levels present before adsorption, but did not change the quantity of Ab to Dermatophyton, Trichophyton or TT therein. Apparently, some autoantibodies generically recognized as Fab'' specific have properties that are usually considered to be characteristic of autoanti-idiotypes.

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