Idiotypic Interactions between Rheumatoid Factors and other Antibodies

Role of idiotype–anti-idiotype interactions in the induction of collagen-induced arthritis in rats

“…The existence of idiotype-anti-idiotype interactions between antibodies to foreign antigens causing arthritis, and to autoantibodies, is shown in different models. For instance, P.M. Johnson et al has shown that RF was produced in animals immunized with streptococcal peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complex, and conversely, immunization of mice with purified RF extracted from serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis led to the production of antibodies to peptidoglycan-polysaccharide polymer of pyogenic streptococci (Johnson and Smalley, 1988). Based on this data, the author suggests that there is idiotypic complementarity between rheumatoid factor and anti-peptidoglycan antibodies.…”

Rheumatoid factor in idiotypic regulation of autoimmunity

“…It was also shown that some RFs are able to bind to both the IgG Fc region and the IgG Fab region . Studies of idiotype–anti‐idiotype (IAI) interactions between RF and antibodies of different specificity have demonstrated that these interactions exist between RF and anti‐collagen antibodies, anti‐thyroglobulin antibodies, anti‐peptidoglycan antibodies and antibodies to Fc gamma‐binding virus proteins . IAI interactions between lymphocytes and their products are known to form a regulatory system .…”

Antibodies Reactive with Streptococcal Peptidoglycan-Polysaccharide Complexes in Rheumatic Fever, Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis and Tuberculosis

“…There is much evidence link ing autoimmunity with a variety of infectious agents, including an association of rheumatoid factor with bacterial infections [3]. Immunisation of mice and rabbits with isolated rheumatoid factor preparations elicits an anti-PG-PS response in the absence of im munisation with PG-PS [4], suggesting that there could be a form of idiotypic complementarity be tween rheumatoid factor and anti-PG-PS antibodies.…”