Inability to detect circulating anti‐idiotypic antibodies in human anti‐GBM antibody‐mediated disease using a splenic PFC assay

Abstract

Anti‐idiotypic antibodies are antibodies that are directed against the variable region of the corresponding antibody molecule and have been postulated to have a regulatory role in the immune response. Circulating anti‐idiotypic antibodies have been reported in several antibody‐mediated autoimmune diseases. We have established the following detection system for anti‐idiotypic antibodies in human anti‐glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease. Spleen cells harvested from BALB/c mice immunised with human GBM were incubated with GBM‐coated sheep red blood cells in the presence of guinea pig complement. Each spleen cell that produced anti‐GBM antibodies resulted in a surrounding plaque where ant..