Monoclonal Antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) are molecules created in laboratories, which can be engineered to bind to specific cells or proteins, enabling precise targeting.

• They are homogeneous, meaning they are identical because they come from only one type of cell.

• MABs are produced by a type of white blood cell known as B lymphocytes. These cells have been adapted in a lab to create one specific type of antibody.

• They work by recognizing and attaching themselves to specific proteins on the surface of cells. Each MAB is designed to recognize one specific protein.

• The process of making MABs starts by triggering a mouse’s immune system to produce the desired antibody. Then, a cell producing the antibody is fused with a cancer cell (which can reproduce indefinitely). The resulting hybrid cell is called a hybridoma.

• Hybridomas can be grown in labs and will produce large quantities of identical antibodies – hence the term ‘monoclonal’.

• In medicine, MABs are used for both diagnosis and treatment.

• As part of the diagnostic process, MABs can be used to detect levels of specific hormones in the blood, or to identify specific types of cells or bacteria.

• For the treatment of various conditions, MABs can be designed to target unhealthy cells, such as cancer cells, without harming healthy cells. This is possible thanks to their ability to specifically bind to antigens on the targeted cells.

• MABs are used in a variety of treatments, including some types of cancer, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease, and in preventing the body rejecting a transplanted organ.

• It’s important to note that whilst MABs have great potential for treating and diagnosing diseases, their use can cause side effects and they may not be effective for everyone. Furthermore, production of MABs is an expensive and time-consuming process.