The phenomenon of idiotypy was discovered almost thirty years ago, but it was only during the past decade that it attracted widespread interest and became the subject of numerous research investigations. From the outset, much of the interest in idiotypy was based on its implications with respect to the repertoire of antibodies. Kunkel showed, for example, that idiotypes associated with certain human myeloma or Bence-Jones proteins were present in normal human globulins at levels of less than one part per million. Also, Oudin's original definition of idiotypy implied that idiotypes could be uniquely associated with individual rabbits as well as with particular antigen-binding specificities. Such observations provided some of the earliest evidence for an extensive repertoire of immunoglobulin molecules. The implications of these findings have been amply confirmed by recent studies of protein struc ture and molecular genetics; many of these studies are reviewed in the present volume. It is known now that the diversity of antibodies is based on the presence of numerous V and L V H genes, on recombinatorial events involving D and] segments, on somatic mutations, and on processes involving deletion of DNA followed by repair with errors, including inser tions. Each of these parameters is capable of influencing the idiotype expressed by the final immunoglobulin product. Regulation of the immune response is another area in which idiotypy has significantly influenced modern immunology.

Idiotypes documents the proceedings of an International Conference on Idiotypes held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, October 20-23, 1985. The aims of the conference were to gather active investigators in the study of idiotypes; to assess progress in the field; and to explore directions for future research. The papers presented at the conference cover a wide range of subjects. Several papers deal with defining protein and DNA sequences which determine idiotypes. Evidence points to germ line genes encoding the V region structures which underlie idiotypy. Another subtheme which concerns several contributions is the occurrence of dominant idiotypes in induced immune responses (e.g., arsonate and lysozyme) and autoimmunity (e.g., thyroglobulin and rheumatoid factors). The presence of such dominant idiotypes is discussed from several viewpoints, but the recurrent theme is that such dominance is a manifestation of a selection process inherent in the idiotypic network. Two papers deal with idiotypic structures in T cells: on the one hand, identifying idiotypes on T helper cells and, on the other, I-J and Iat related structures which tightly govern cellular interactions in the evolution of an immune response. Network interactions through autoanti-idiotypic responses are shown to be associated with the effects on the specificity of both induced and naturally occurring immune responses. Autoanti-idiotypic responses are also shown to be correlated with the regulation of the anti-DNA response in human systemic lupus erythematosus. These data pointed to a role of the idiotype network in immune regulation.

Idiotypes and Lymphocytes reviews the progress made in the study of the idiotypes of lymphocytes, particularly the discovery that a vast spectrum of possible relationships between cells and antibodies and communications between various subsets of T- and B-lymphocytes exist within the immune system. The book explores autoanti-idiotype antibodies and the antigen-mimicking properties of anti-idiotype antibodies, along with the idiotypic determinants borne by the lymphocyte's receptor that serve as regulatory sites. Organized into seven chapters, this volume begins with an overview of idiotypy, from its discovery to the localization of idiotypic determinants in the variable regions. This book also explains how idiotypic specificity is associated with a particular antigenic specificity of the antibody molecule, the diversity of antibodies, and the regulation of the immune response. The next chapters introduce the reader to the ontogeny of idiotypic expression, touching on topics such as the development of B cells and sequential activation of V genes, along with the variability of idiotypic specificities during immune response. The book also explores the expression of idiotypes in B-lymphocytes and of idiotypic determinants of humoral antibodies in the antigenic receptors of T cells, as well as the mechanisms that allow anti-idiotype antibodies to regulate lymphocyte functions. The final chapter looks into the therapeutic implications of the immune network, with emphasis on the effects of anti-idiotypes antibodies in autoimmune diseases. This book is an essential reading for immunologists.

This is the most comprehensive review of the idiotypic network available. All the current knowledge of idiotypes of the various antibodies is incorporated in this volume. The pathogenic role of idiotypes in autoimmunity and cancer is reviewed in depth. The therapeutic part focusses on harnessing anti-idiotypes for treating autoimmunological disorders, and on the employment of idiotypes for vaccines in cancer and infectious diseases, as well as explaining the manipulation of the idiotypic network in autoimmunity and cancer idiotypes and vaccines.

The goal of this book is to present findings which are supportive of the concept that the words of the idiotype dictionary and likewise self-recognition are essential for communication between lymphocyte clones while some unfaithful ( infidel ) copies of the words contained in the idiotype dictionary perhaps play a role in the functional regulation of nonlymphoid cells.