Antibodies which recognize the binding sites of other antibodies. Their binding sites are complementary to the binding sites of another immunoglobulin. When an animal becomes immune to something, it not only acquires antibodies against that something, it also acquires antibodies against those antibodies. This forms a network of antibodies which can all bind to each other to various degrees, helping to regulate the immune response. Some allergic responses are in part due to the breakdown of this sort of regulation.