Regulation of azophenylarsonate-specific repertoire expression. 1. Frequency of cross-reactive idiotype-positive B cells in A/J and BALB/c mice.

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Abstract
A large proportion of p-azophenylarsonate (ARS)-specific antibodies from A/J mice share a cross-reactive idiotype (CRIA) that comprises a family of closely related but nonidentical clonotypes. It was determined that only 2.6% (7 of 267) A/J ARS-specific monoclonal antibodies generated in the splenic focus system possess the predominant CRIA. Because ARS-specific B cells are present at a frequency of 1/68,000 B cells, the frequency of the entire idiotype family is 1/2.8 .times. 106 splenic B cells. There is a striking discrepancy between the representation of this idiotype at the clonal precursor cell level and the serum antibody response. BALB/c mice have the potential to generate CRIA-positive precursor cells within their nonimmune repertoire. When A/J mice are immunized with ARS-protein conjugates, the serum antibody response and precursor cell population are both dominated by CRIA. The frequency of CRIA-positive B cells increases > 100-fold after immunization, while CRIA-negative precursor cells may initially decrease, followed by a latter rise in frequency. Although ARS-specific precursor cells are present in high frequency at birth, CRIA-positive monoclonal anti-ARS antibodies are not observed during the early neonatal period. Apparently, complex regulatory networks influence precursor cell and serum antibody expression.