ABSTRACT
The basic question is whether all idiotopes (ID) are equal in their abilities to induce regulatory auto-anti-Id responses. Closer examination of the data shows that only a subset of the total antibody population-born idiotopes could be recognized by auto-anti-Id antibodies. Antihapten antibodies were specifically purified and the pepsin fragments of these antibodies were prepared. The auto-anti-Id and isologous anti-Id reagents were then used in radioimmunoassay inhibition experiments to determine if the idiotopes recognized by both were identical. Experiments were set up in an attempt to determine if the observed differences in the sets of Id recognized by the isologous anti-Id and auto-anti-Id reagents were related to affinity of the different subsets of antibodies for the immunizing hapten. The working hypothesis was that the auto-anti-Id response might be very similar to other antibody responses in being dose dependent. All molecules recognized by auto-anti-Id antisera were also recognized by isologous anti-Id antibodies.
