Monoclonal Antibodies

Understanding Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made molecules that can mimic the immune system’s ability to fight pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.
  • They are proteins produced by a single type of immune cell, a B cell, hence the term ‘mono’.
  • Monoclonal antibodies can be engineered to recognise specific cells or proteins, making them valuable tools in diagnosis and treatment.

Production of Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Monoclonal antibodies are produced by first stimulating a mouse’s immune system to make the desired type of B cells that produce a specific antibody.
  • These cells are then fused with myeloma cells, cancerous cells that can multiply indefinitely.
  • The hybrid cells, known as hybridomas, can both produce the specific antibody and divide continuously. This results in large amounts of uniform, or ‘monoclonal,’ antibodies.

Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Diagnostic Tools: Monoclonal antibodies can be used to detect the presence of specific antigens or targets in a patient’s body. For instance, they are used in pregnancy tests to react with the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
  • Medical Treatments: Monoclonal antibodies can also be used to treat diseases. They can be designed to bind to specific diseased cells, like cancer cells. This can either help immune cells find and kill these cells, or it can block cell receptors that tell the cells to grow.
  • Research Tools: In the lab, monoclonal antibodies allow scientists to study the specific proteins involved in cell processes and identify changes in cells.

Potential Risks and Ethical Considerations

  • There can be side effects from using monoclonal antibodies. These can range from fever and nausea to low blood pressure and breathing difficulties.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are produced using animals, particularly mice. Therefore, their production raises ethical considerations related to the use and potential mistreatment of animals.
  • The use of monoclonal antibodies should always be a decision made with thorough understanding of risks and after other treatment options have been considered.

Developments and Future Use

  • The use of monoclonal antibodies is a rapidly advancing area of science. New ways of using these molecules for treatment of diseases, including various cancers, infections and autoimmune diseases, are continually being researched.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are now being used as a treatment for COVID-19, focusing on antibodies that can neutralise the virus that causes the disease.
  • Further improvements in the production and use of monoclonal antibodies could potentially revolutionise healthcare in the coming years.