Anti-idiotypic
Encyclopedia
Anti-idiotypic vaccines comprise antibodies
that have three-dimensional immunogenic regions, designated idiotopes, that consist of protein
sequences that bind to cell receptors. Idiotopes are aggregated into idiotype
s specific of their target antigen.
-associated antigens (TAA) are isolated and injected into mice. To the murine immune system
, the TAA antibodies are antigens and cause an immunogenic reaction producing murine antibodies that can bind to the "TAA idiotype" and is said to be "anti-idiotypic". The resulting murine antibodies are harvested and used to vaccinate other mice. The resulting antibodies in the second set of mice have a three-dimensional binding site that mimics the structure, i. e., idiotopes, of the original TAA, i.e., they present the idiotype of the TAA. These antibodies are combined with an adjuvant
and given as a vaccine. The murine immune system essentially "amplifies" a small mass of TAA antibodies into a much larger mass used to vaccinate human
s. Because the antibody produced using the "anti-idiotypic" process closely resembles the antigen, these antibodies can be used to induce immune responses from cellular to antibody-antigen for a given antigen, e. g., TAA, when administered as a vaccine to a human. They are mainly used for high risk cancer patients.
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
that have three-dimensional immunogenic regions, designated idiotopes, that consist of protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
sequences that bind to cell receptors. Idiotopes are aggregated into idiotype
Idiotype
In immunology, an idiotype is a shared characteristic between a group of immunoglobulin or T cell receptor molecules based upon the antigen binding specificity and therefore structure of their variable region...
s specific of their target antigen.
Production and use
In one example of producing an anti-idiotypic vaccine, antibodies that bind tumorTumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
-associated antigens (TAA) are isolated and injected into mice. To the murine immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
, the TAA antibodies are antigens and cause an immunogenic reaction producing murine antibodies that can bind to the "TAA idiotype" and is said to be "anti-idiotypic". The resulting murine antibodies are harvested and used to vaccinate other mice. The resulting antibodies in the second set of mice have a three-dimensional binding site that mimics the structure, i. e., idiotopes, of the original TAA, i.e., they present the idiotype of the TAA. These antibodies are combined with an adjuvant
Adjuvant
An adjuvant is a pharmacological or immunological agent that modifies the effect of other agents, such as a drug or vaccine, while having few if any direct effects when given by itself...
and given as a vaccine. The murine immune system essentially "amplifies" a small mass of TAA antibodies into a much larger mass used to vaccinate human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s. Because the antibody produced using the "anti-idiotypic" process closely resembles the antigen, these antibodies can be used to induce immune responses from cellular to antibody-antigen for a given antigen, e. g., TAA, when administered as a vaccine to a human. They are mainly used for high risk cancer patients.