Tolerance to Azobenzenearsonate: Preferential Loss of the Major Normal Cross-Reactive Idiotype¹

A specific tolerant state was induced in A/J mice to the hapten p-aminobenzenearsonate (Ars) by the injection of deaggregated conjugates of Ars and human γ-globulin (Ars-DHGG). The kinetics of tolerance to Ars-DHGG was found to be identical to that of B cell tolerance to human γ-globulin alone. The ability to produce antibody (anti-Ars) bearing the major normal cross-reactive idiotype was found to be preferentially lost. In addition, recovery of the ability to produce anti-Ars bearing this cross-reactive idiotype was found to be delayed as compared to the total anti-Ars response upon spontaneous loss of tolerance.