Role of idiotype–anti-idiotype interactions in the induction of collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Comparison of the specificity of rheumatoid factor detected by latex fixation with that of regulatory rheumatoid factor

“…Several years ago, while exploring the cause of the latent period in the formation of antibodies to collagen in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA)‐resistant rats, we found that during that period (7‐14 days after collagen immunization), the level of rheumatoid factor in the rats’ blood increased. In rats sensitive to CIA, antibodies to collagen had already appeared on day 7 after immunization, and no RF production was observed during this time 5 . We also observed a similar association between RF production preceding the production of antibodies to the inducer antigen and resistance to autoimmune disease in models of experimental autoimmune rat encephalomyelitis (EAE) and rat atherosclerosis induced by immunization with native lipoproteins 6 .…”

“…In rats sensitive to CIA, antibodies to collagen had already appeared on day 7 after immunization, and no RF production was observed during this time. 5 We also observed a similar association between RF production preceding the production of antibodies to the inducer antigen and resistance to autoimmune disease in models of experimental autoimmune rat encephalomyelitis (EAE) and rat atherosclerosis induced by immunization with native lipoproteins. 6 In addition, we noticed a connection between RF production and the remission of CIA and EAE.…”

Rheumatoid factor in idiotypic regulation of autoimmunity

“…In our previous studies, we found that the RF that we assayed by agglutination of tanned IgG‐loaded erythrocytes regulates anti‐collagen lymphocyte activity in a collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) model through the IAI interaction mechanism. High RF levels during the CIA induction phase are protective against autoimmune disease manifestations . In addition, we have shown that stimulation of RF production downregulates the autoimmune reaction to collagen and significantly reduces symptoms in arthritic rats (unpublished data).…”

B cells and rheumatoid factors in autoimmunity

“…present a very different study showing how particular subspecies of RFs can play a protective role in animal models of autoimmunity, including collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). This is an extension of early studies from the same group . Their hypothesis is that certain subspecies of RFs produced in animals that prove to be resistant to clinical disease are involved in regulating the immune response to the autoimmune disease‐inducing antigens via idiotype–anti‐idiotype interactions with lymphocytes specific for those antigens.…”