The Journal of Immunology, Vol 137, Issue 10 3135-3139, Copyright © 1986 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Selective in vitro inhibition of an antibody response to purified acetylcholine receptor by using anti-idiotypic antibodies coupled to the A chain of ricin

RM DeShambo and KA Krolick

In vitro antibody responses by rat lymph node cells against purified acetylcholine receptor (AChR) were shown to be inhibitable by protein conjugates prepared with anti-idiotypic antibody and the toxic A chain of ricin. The idiotype specificity of the cytotoxicity was demonstrated by the inability of the same immunotoxin to inhibit an unrelated antibody response (anti-KLH) and by abrogation of specific toxicity in the presence of unconjugated anti-idiotype or antigen (AChR). Furthermore, immunotoxin prepared with an irrelevant antibody specificity failed to significantly inhibit either the anti-AChR or control antibody responses. Therefore, we suggest that idiotype- specific immunotoxins may be a useful addition or alternative to presently employed immunotherapies for autoimmune disease.