The experimental induction of rheumatoid factors of low affinity and cross reactivity with nonhistone nucleoproteins by means of anti-idiotypes directed at rheumatoid factors of high affinity and cross reactivity with histones H1 and H2b
Ruiz-Argüelles, A.
Gaceta Medica de Mexico 127(1) 13-19; Discussion: 19-20
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-3813 PMID: 1959733 Document Number: 369281
The study of the anti-nuclear cross reactivity of rheumatoid factors has shown differences between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy seropositive subjects. This paper describes the finding, of a subpopulation of rheumatoid factor molecules which show a cross reactive idiotype and show high affinity for IgG and cross reactivity against histones in rheumatoid arthritis patients but not in healthy subjects. These molecules, in turn, were able to induce, experimentally, heterogeneous rheumatoid factor molecules that show a low affinity for IgG and cross-reactivity against nucleoproteins other than histones, most likely through idiotypic networks. The mechanism could be responsible for the diversification of serum autoantibodies found in rheumatoid arthritis.