Maternal transmission of idiotypic network interactions selecting available T cell repertoires

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Abstract
Up to 75% of 2,4,6‐Trinitrophenyl (TNP)‐self‐specific helper T cells from normal BALB/c mice share a clonotypic determinant with the anti‐TNP myeloma protein MOPC 460, recognized by the monoclonal antibody F6(51). Immunization of adult BALB/c mice with the MOPC 460 idiotype (Ab2 mice) leads to high titers of circulating anti‐idiotypic antibodies but has no influence on the expression of the T cell clonotype. In contrast, TNP‐self‐specific helper cells prepared in progenies from Ab2females, or in BALB/c mice treated as neonatals with anti‐idiotypic antibodies, fail to express the corresponding T cell clonotype when immunized as adults. These results demonstrate the idiotype‐dependent selection of T cell repertoires early in life and their stability in adults.