Jerne's Anti-Idiotypic Network Theory Cannot Explain Self-Nonself
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Journal of Alternative Medicine Research ISSN: 1939-5868 Volume 1, Issue 4, pp.439-444 © 2009 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Human development XVII: Jerne’s anti-idiotypic network theory cannot explain self-nonself discrimination Søren Ventegodt∗1,2,3,4,5, Tyge Dahl Abstract Hermansen1, Isack Kandel6,7 and Joav Merrick5,7,8,,9 In this paper we propose that self-nonself discrimination 1 takes place at a supra-cellular systemic level and involves Quality of Life Research Center, Classensgade 11C, 1 selective activation of immune cell precursors. We discuss sal, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark; this activation, the further differentiation to active 2Research Clinic for Holistic Medicine and lymphocytes, and the following immune response induced 3Nordic School of Holistic Medicine, Copenhagen, by the system permitting all relevant information to be Denmark; involved in the “decision” process in a dynamic way. We 4Scandinavian Foundation for Holistic Medicine, discuss Jerne’s immunological network theory based on the capability of self-nonself discrimination and we discuss if Sandvika, Norway; 5 his immunological network theory is able to carry out such Interuniversity College, Graz, Austria; self-nonself discrimination. We argue that this is not the 6 Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioral case. We discuss the immune tolerance that seems not to be Sciences, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, transferred with the immune cells, what Jerne’s network Israel; model involves as a necessity. We discuss Jerne’s 7National Institute of Child Health and Human idiotypical network’s capability of being expanded to include T-cells. Also here we argue that this is not the case. Development 8 Furthermore, We discuss Jerne’s own arguments for his Office of the Medical Director, Division for Mental immunological network theory and discuss different Retardation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Jerusalem, experiments capability of supporting or rejecting Jerne’s Israel and immunological network theory. We found that not enough 9Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky, evidence and proof for his model have yet been presented Lexington, United States in the forum of discussion or in the scientific literature to support the existence of Jernes network theory. Finally we argue that his model in principle can not explain the immunological self-nonself discrimination. Keywords: Immunology, self-nonself discrimination, holistic biology, theoretical biology, clinical holistic medicine, public health, T-cells. Introduction In this paper we discuss self-nonself discrimination, mainly in the view of the Danish immunologist Niels ∗ Correspondence: Søren Ventegodt, MD, MMedSci, MSc, Kaj Jerne (1911-1994) immunological network theory Director, Quality of Life Research Center, Classensgade (1,2). In 1974, Niels Jerne came up with his network 11C, 1 sal, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark. Tel: +45- 33-141113; Fax: +45-33-141123; E-mail: theory for the immune system (1). It was an a priori [email protected] hypothesis that had no experimental foundation. It 440 Søren Ventegodt, Tyge Dahl Hermansen, Isack Kandel et al. was what Jerne himself later called “a preconceived paratopes not necessarily means that the two idea” (2). Jerne did take an important step in 1974, antibodies have the same idiotopes. He furthermore because the investigation of systemic information was assumes that each antibody recognizes through its and is essential. Because the scientific community at paratope and is recognized through all its idiotopes. that time had no clue about the function of the Jerne emphasized, that the resulting network immune system as a system, Jerne’s hypothesis was implies both free and cell bound Ig, why the B-cells very well received. Because a network theory was are involved. He mentioned that Myeloma Ig gives expected at that time, many immunologists did not idiotypespecific tolerance, when it is administered question the nature of Jerne’s theory. The hypothesis untreated in a mouse, while the polymerised or was in its basic elements simple and easy to modified Myeloma Ig gives anti-idiotypic antibody understand, but in its totality impossible to get an response. From this he concludes, that the B- overview of, even incomprehensible. Nobody had lymphocyte can react with response or with tolerance expected the regulation of the immune system to be at the Ig (this is not a logical consequence but seems simple, and fundamentally Jerne’s theory did not very reasonable). He further mentions, that most of deter many immunologists. Today opponents against the experiments suggest that B-cells become Jerne’s theory reject his network theory as a formal suppressed, when a paratope of an alien Ig finds an absurdity (3-5), and its spokesmen admit that self- idiotope at the B-cell (but the evidence seems weak). nonself discrimination also in the view of Jerne’s Finally, Jerne (1) emphasized the importance of theory lack the capability of controlling the network suppression: “I have become increasingly convinced (6). Jerne’s network theory only takes care of the of its lymphocytes”, he wrote. regulation of the immune response after activation Experiments with tolerance induction show that a (when the “choices” has been taken), and a problem cell also can become suppressed when it meets the concerning the spokesmen is that Jerne rarely cites the specific epiotope for which it has a paratope, experimental results that contradict his network wherefore the inhibiting forces in the network seem to theory (7,8). outdo the activating forces. Jerne imagined a dynamic According to Klein (9) a network is a possibility, equilibrium, where the immune cells through and he discusses the existence of idiotype specific inhibition are prevented from working, except when cells (Th-cells). There are as many experiments that they are needed. Jerne mentioned the problem of low- confirm the existence of these cells as there are dose tolerance and wrote that the concentration of Ig- experiments that contradict their existence. We think idiotopes maybe exceed the threshold of low-dose the existing proof for confirmation of Jerne’s network tolerance. The low-dose interval, however, seemed to theory has not been sufficient. In this paper we argue be 106-1012 epitopes pr. ml., while the average of Ig- that Jerne’s network theory is not able to explain the idiotopes taken as an average of some millions, is mechanism behind self-nonself discrimination, what about 1010. This value should furthermore be our holistic paradigm is (10). adjusted in a downward direction for the peaks of specific Ig’s formed in connection with an immune response. Thereby the idiotopes seem to fall within Jerne’s network model the low-dose tolerance interval. From this we conclude that the immune system has an eigen- Jerne (1) at first defined a few concepts: the behaviour and constantly reacts towards itself. antigen determinant he called the epiotope, and the In figure 1 for each Ig plotted a paratope (P) and antibody combining site he called the paratope. Each an idiotope (I) are also. P(Ig1) (also referred to as individual antibody molecule carries a specific AB1 below) recognizes the antigen (E) (left). But, at paratope, but also a number of its own specific the same time, the paratope P(Ig1) fits to an idiotope determinants that under specific circumstances are I(Ig2) on the Ig2. P(Ig1) have its own idiotope I(Ig1) able to give an immune response. These are situated that is recognized on P(Ig3). To a stranger epitope E, at the variable part and are called idiotopes (idios = a set of Ig’s (P-I) exists with different affinity. self). Jerne assumes that the existence of identical Human development XVII 441 Figure 1. A model of Niels Jerne’s immunological network modified from (1). For each Ig a paratope (P) and an idiotope (I) are plotted. P(Ig1) recognizes the antigen (E). The paratope P(Ig1) fits to an idiotope I(Ig2) on the Ig2. P(Ig1) have its own idiotope I(Ig1) that is recognized on P(Ig3). To a foreign epitope E, a set of Ig’s (P-I) exists with different affinity produced through an immune response. A modification of Jerne [1] (figure 7). These affinities can be produced through an inhibited itself, etc. etc.. The activated inner picture, immune response. They recognize a great amount of have an inner picture itself that have to be activated, idiotopes said to be the E’s “inner picture”. These Ig’s etc. etc. have a huge amount of idiotopes (I’s) that are After this the strengthened inner picture recognized by an extended set of paratopes (P’s). uninhibited provoke an activation (and propagation?) Jerne argued that the inner picture may have the of AB1-cells that may soon exist in huge amounts. same effect as the presentation of an outer antigen, Jerne thought that this reinforcement would tend and therefore may stimulate the B-lymphocytes. The against counteracting the mentioned avalanche in extended set that recognizes the Ig-idiotopes, on the such way that the network attempts to regain its other hand, should be inhibiting. However, the balance. But we ask how this should be able to immune system is after this in a stage of extended happen. The enforcement has exactly come through as suppression that has to be overcome through an a consequence of the unbalance in the system. So, will outside stimulus, the antigen. This may be the first it be able to bring it in balance again? We do not think step in an immune response and may correspond to a so. Analogically, this could be compared to a man suddenly miss of AB1, because this then, is tied to the that, to find the balance again, grabs the stone he antigen. This leads to absence of inhibition on a part caused to unbalance and just has lost.