Inheritance patterns of idiotype expression: maternal-fetal immune regulatory networks

The production of Id-1, a cross-reactive idiotype associated with rat anti-group A streptococcal carbohydrate antibodies, by 11 strains of rats indicates that genes coding for Id-1 are in the germline. Its expression, however, follows a complex inheritance pattern. It was our intent in these studies to determine if immune responsiveness of streptococcus (GASV) immunized females could alter Id-1 expression of GASV-immunized progeny, and, in turn, introduce complications in Id-1 inheritance patterns.-We observed that Id-1-specific immune reactivity of GASV-immunized females could induce significant alterations in Id-1 production by progeny. The relationship between maternal and progeny Id-1 was complex, reflecting the complexity of autologous regulation of Id-1 production, and could be the opposite of what one would predict based upon parental transfer of Id-1 regulatory genes. The nongenetic nature of the maternal regulatory influence was confirmed by foster-mother studies.— We conclude that antigen-induced maternal immune responsiveness can exert a permanent regulatory influence on idiotype expression by progeny and consequently introduce error into the interpretations of idiotype inheritance patterns. The recognition of this maternal regulatory influence also lends further support to Jerne's hypothesis that idiotype-specific immune networks play a significant role in the regulation of immune responsiveness in vivo.