Implications of the presence of an internal image of the antigen in anti-idiotypic antibodies: Possible application to vaccine production

Abstract There is now strong suggestive evidence that some anti-idiotypic antibodies may possess one or more antigenic determinants (epitopes) that are closely related to epitope(s) on the original antigen (antigen X). Thus, some molecules of anti-anti-X may share an epitope with X. When this occurs a wide range of idiotypic cross-reactions will be observed among anti-X antibodies from various sources and, if X is a hormone, the cross-reactions may include cell surface receptors for the hormone. Such cross-reactions can lead to misinterpretation of the genetic significance of the observed cross-reactive idiotypy. This article reviews the evidence for this phenomenon and its possible relationship to certain autoimmune disease processes involving cell surface receptors. The possibility is discussed of obtaining monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies with epitopes similar to those on an infectious agent. Such a monoclonal antibody might elicit protective antibodies when inoculated and thus act as a vaccine.