Analysis of the interaction of antibodies with immunoglobulin idiotypes on neoplastic B lymphocytes: implications for immunotherapy
Elliott, T.J.; Glennie, M.J.; McBride, H.M.; Stevenson, G.T.
Journal of Immunology 138(3): 981-988
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 2433338 Document Number: 292125
We have examined the reactions of a panel of nine monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies with the surface immunoglobulin in situ on guinea pig L2C leukemic lymphocytes. Equilibrium binding constants were shown to range between 107 and 108 M-1 for univalent Fab'.gamma. fragments and between 108 and 109 M-1 for intact IgG. Saturation of the cell surface binding sites was achieved with 2.9 .times. 105 Fab'.gamma. molecules/cell and 1.2 .times. 105 IgG molecules/cell for each antibody, a result that is consistent with a bivalent mode of interaction for the IgG. Despite these overall similarities in binding characteristics, antibodies showed striking differences in their ability to clear Ig from the cell surface by antigenic modulation in vitro. This suggested differences in the readiness with which the antibodies cross-linked neighboring surface Ig molecules. Such an interpretation was supported by differences in the times required to achieve bivalent binding at 0.degree. C, and in the rates at which labeled antibody dissociated from the cell surface in the presence or absence of an excess of unlabeled antibody. The data are consistent with there being two functionally distinct types of anti-idiotype antibody: those that form predominantly intra-Ig bridges, with each antibody Fab being linked to an Fab on one target molecule ("monogamous" binding) and to favoring modulation; and those that form predominantly inter-Ig bridges ("bigamous" binding) and favor modulation. The nature of interaction is presumably dictated by the orientation of the particular idiotope concerned. This distinction could be of great importance in the therapeutic use of anti-idiotype to ablate B cell neoplasms.