Anti-acetylcholine receptor idiotypes in myasthenia gravis analysed by rabbit anti-sera
Lang, B.; Roberts, A.J.; Vincent, A.; Newsom-Davis, J.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 60(3): 637-644
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 4017289 Document Number: 260600
Anti-idiotype sera, raised in rabbits against anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) (idiotype) purified from the serum of 3 myasthenia gravis patients, inhibited binding of homologous idiotype to the AChR by up to 80%. The expression of idiotype in the 3 individuals changed very little over a period of several years, during which they showed a declining trend in overall anti-AChR antibody. Only 1 of the 4 anti-idiotype sera inhibited the binding of anti-AChR from a number of other patients. These results indicate a consistency of idiotype expression within an individual, and fail to show substantial idiotype sharing between individuals.