B3.2 - Monoclonal Antibodies

• Where are monoclonal antibodies produced from?

  Monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells.

  The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so are able to target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body.
• How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

  • They are produced by stimulating mouse lymphocytes to make a particular antibody.
  • The lymphocytes are combined with a particular kind of tumour cell to make a cell called a hybridoma cell.
  • The hybridoma cell can both divide and make the antibody.
  • Single hybridoma cells are cloned to produce many identical cells that all produce the same antibody.
  • A large amount of the antibody can be collected and purified.
• Uses of monoclonal antibodies

  • for diagnosis such as in pregnancy tests
  • in laboratories to measure the levels of hormones and other chemicals in blood, or to detect pathogens
  • in research to locate or identify specific molecules in a cell or tissue by binding to them with a fluorescent dye
  • to treat some diseases: for cancer the monoclonal antibody can be bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug or a chemical which stops cells growing and dividing. It delivers the substance to the cancer cells without harming other cells in the body.
• Why aren't monoclonal antibodies used as widely as everyone hoped when they were initially developed?

  They have more side effects than expected.