Cross-reactive idiotypes and common antigen binding specificities expressed by a series of murine B-cell lymphomas: etiological implications.

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Abstract
A series of 27 B cell lymphomas (designated the CH series), induced in B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts mice by intense adoptive immunization with sheep erythrocytes, represents a subset of the total B-cell repertoire. This subset was characterized by expression of a limited number of Ig H chain variable regions, as evidenced by the presence of cross-reactive idiotypes and common antigen binding specificities. Of the 27 CH lymphomas studied 21 were classified into 5 groups, defined by a particular cross-reactive idiotype; 4 of these groups were linked in a single network. Of 16 idiotypes defined by absorption analysis 7 were present on lymphomas bearing either .kappa. or .lambda. L chains and so were localized to the H chain variable region. The surface Ig on 14 CH lymphomas was specific for epitopes on certain erythrocytes (bromelain-treated autologous erythrocytes, sheep and chicken erythrocytes) or Escherichia coli. The CH lymphomas represent the malignant counterparts of a subset of idiotypically related, normal B cells in B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts mice. Perturbation of this idiotype network, by hyperimmunization with an antigen for which some of the members are specific (sheep erythrocytes), increases the risk for neoplasia. Possible mechanisms for this are discussed.