Methods for the production and use of anti-idiotypic antibodies using human ig expressing transgenic animals

摘要

Methods for production of enriched populations of anti-idiotypic antibodies are provided. These antibodies are produced by immunizing transgenic non-human animals. The transgene utilized in these animals encodes and, in the animals, expresses an immunoglobulin protein which is idiotypically different from the immunizing immunoglobulin. The animals therefore produce virtually no antibodies against constant region determinants on the immunoglobulin expressed by the transgene. A preferred method will produce enriched populations of monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies utilizing hybridomas formed by fusion of splenocytes taken from the transgenic animals of the invention.