The Biology of Idiotypes, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1984

The phenomenon of idiotypy was discovered almost thirty years ago, but it was only during the past decade that it attracted widespread interest and became the subject of numerous research investigations. From the outset, much of the interest in idiotypy was based on its implications with respect to the repertoire of antibodies. Kunkel showed, for example, that idiotypes associated with certain human myeloma or Bence-Jones proteins were present in normal human globulins at levels of less than one part per million. Also, Oudin's original definition of idiotypy implied that idiotypes could be uniquely associated with individual rabbits as well as with particular antigen-binding specificities. Such observations provided some of the earliest evidence for an extensive repertoire of immunoglobulin molecules. The implications of these findings have been amply confirmed by recent studies of protein struc­ ture and molecular genetics; many of these studies are reviewed in the present volume. It is known now that the diversity of antibodies is based on the presence of numerous V and L V H genes, on recombinatorial events involving D and] segments, on somatic mutations, and on processes involving deletion of DNA followed by repair with errors, including inser­ tions. Each of these parameters is capable of influencing the idiotype expressed by the final immunoglobulin product. Regulation of the immune response is another area in which idiotypy has significantly influenced modern immunology.

I. Molecular Genetic Aspects of Idiotypes.- 1 Idiotypic Determinants, Minigenes, and the Antibody Combining Site.- 2 The Genes Encoding Anti-NP Antibodies in Inbred Strains of Mice.- 3 Structural and Genetic Basis of the Major Cross-Reactive Idiotype of the A Strain Mouse.- 4 The Molecular Genetics of Phosphocholine-Binding Antibodies.- 5 Genetic Rearrangements of Human Immunoglobulin Genes.- 6 Analysis of the GAT B Repertoire.- 7 Structural Correlates of Idiotypes Expressed on Galactan-Binding Antibodies.- II. Serologic and Structural Correlates of Idiotypes.- 8 Idiotypic Markers and the Three-Dimensional Structure of Immunoglobulins.- 9 Combining Site Specificity and Idiotypy: A Study of Antidigoxin and Antiarsonate Antibodies.- 10 The Murine Antibody Response to Phosphocholine: Idiotypes, Structures, and Binding Sites.- 11 The Limiting Dilution Approach to the Analysis of the Idiotypic Repertoire.- 12 Antibody Diversity in the Response to Streptococcal Group A Carbohydrate.- 13 Idiotypes of Ir Gene-Controlled Anti-GAT Response.- 14 Cross-Reacting Idiotypes in the Human System.- III. Regulation of Idiotypes.- 15 Genetic and Environmental Control of B-Cell Idiotype Expression.- 16 Quantitative Estimates of Diversity, Degeneracy, and Connectivity in an Idiotypic Network among T Cells.- 17 Expression of Anti-MHC Idiotypes in Immune Responses.- 18 Murine Plasmacytoma MOPC315 as a Tool for the Analysis of Network Regulation: M315 Idiotopes are Inducers and Targets of Immunoregulatory Signals.- 19 Idiotypic Suppression of B-Cell-Derived Tumors: Models for Lymphocyte Regulation.- 20 Idiotype and Anti-Idiotype Regulation of Antipolyfructosan Response: Role of Regulatory Idiotopes.- 21 Idiotype-Specific T Cells: Role in Regulation.- 22 The Role of Idiotype and of Immunoglobulin in T-Cell Differentiation and Function.- 23 Helper T-Lymphocyte Influences on Idiotype-Bearing B Cells.- 24 Autologous Idiotope-Specific T Cells in Regulation of Antibody Response.- 25 Idiotype Regulation in the Antibody Response to Phosphocholine: Antigen Selection of B-Lymphocyte Subsets with Differential Idiotype Expression?.- 26 Auto-Anti-Idiotype Production During the Response to Antigen.- IV. Structures on T Cells.- 27 Suppressor T-Cell Hybridoma with a Receptor Recognizing KLH-Specific Suppressor Factor.- 28 Role of Idiotypes in the (4-Hydroxy-3-Nitrophenyl) Acetyl (NP)-Specific Suppressor T- Cell Pathway.- 29 Differential Expression of Igh- 1-Linked T-Cell Alloantigens: Antigen Receptors or Evolutionary Rudiments of Immunoglobulin Genes?.- 30 Mechanisms of Idiotypic Control of the Antibody Repertoire.- 31 The Role of Idiotype in T-Cell Regulatory Events.