Monoclonal Antibodies | Health | Biology | FuseSchool

Summary

Antibodies are crucial players in our immune system, recognizing and fighting harmful invaders called antigens. Monoclonal antibodies, identical antibodies produced in labs from a single immune cell clone, are used in medical applications like diagnosing and treating diseases. They are highly specific, targeting one antigen at a time, and can be used for tasks such as detecting cancer or pregnancy. However, they are expensive, time-consuming to produce, and often have side effects. Despite these challenges, scientists are working to make them safer and more widely accessible, unlocking their full potential.

Takeaways

• 😀 Antibodies are part of the immune system and help fight foreign invaders called antigens.
• 😀 B-cells in the immune system produce antibodies to combat these antigens.
• 😀 Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced from a single clone of immune cells in a lab.
• 😀 The word 'monoclonal' means that the antibodies are produced by identical immune cells.
• 😀 Monoclonal antibodies have high specificity, targeting a single antigen binding site.
• 😀 Mice are used in the production of monoclonal antibodies by vaccinating them with the target antigen.
• 😀 B-cells from a mouse’s spleen are fused with tumor cells to create hybridoma cells that can rapidly divide.
• 😀 Hybridoma cells produce large quantities of identical monoclonal antibodies.
• 😀 Monoclonal antibodies are used in diagnostic tools, such as pregnancy tests, by binding to specific hormones like HCG.
• 😀 Monoclonal antibodies can be used for cancer treatment by targeting cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells.
• 😀 While monoclonal antibodies have immense potential, they are expensive, time-consuming, and have limitations such as being overly specific to one target at a time.

Q & A

What are antibodies and what role do they play in our body?

Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system, specifically by B-cells, that recognize and fight against foreign invaders called antigens. They help protect the body by binding to and neutralizing harmful substances.

What makes monoclonal antibodies different from regular antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced from a single clone of immune cells, making them uniform and highly specific. Unlike regular antibodies, which can be produced by the immune system in response to many different antigens, monoclonal antibodies are designed to target one specific antigen.

How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

Monoclonal antibodies are produced by first vaccinating a mouse with a target antigen, stimulating its immune response. The B-cells from the mouse's spleen are then isolated and fused with tumor cells, creating hybridoma cells. These hybridoma cells divide rapidly and produce identical antibodies that are purified for use.

Why are tumor cells used in the production of monoclonal antibodies?

Tumor cells are used because they can divide uncontrollably, unlike B-cells which do not divide easily. By fusing B-cells with tumor cells, hybridoma cells are created that can replicate quickly and continuously produce the desired antibodies.

What is a hybridoma cell?

A hybridoma cell is the result of fusing a B-cell, which produces antibodies, with a tumor cell. These hybridoma cells are capable of rapid division and continuous production of identical monoclonal antibodies.

What are some common medical and diagnostic applications of monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies are used in various ways, including pregnancy tests, cancer detection, targeted cancer therapies, and detecting diseases or blood clots. They can also be used to trigger the immune system to attack cancer cells.

How are monoclonal antibodies used in pregnancy tests?

Monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests bind to the HCG hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. This binding causes a color change on the test strip, providing a visual indication of pregnancy.

What are some of the benefits of using monoclonal antibodies in cancer treatment?

Monoclonal antibodies can be used in cancer treatment in several ways: by targeting only cancer cells and delivering drugs specifically to them, by detecting cancerous cells, or by stimulating the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

What are the criticisms or limitations of monoclonal antibodies?

Some criticisms include their high cost and the time-consuming nature of their production. They also have more side effects than expected and are highly specific, meaning they can only target one type of antigen at a time. This limits their versatility compared to other treatments.

What is the future outlook for monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies show great potential, but they are not yet as widely used as initially hoped. Scientists are actively working to improve their safety, effectiveness, and versatility, making them a promising area for future medical advancements.