Immunology Unit 4

Question 1

How does a monoclonal antibody work?

Answer 1

• progeny of a B cell fused with a multiple myeloma tumor (abnormal plasma cell) so that it lives forever and produces the specific antibody of the B cell parent
• have antibodies against whatever you design it to (usually some component of the immune/inflammatory system)

Question 2

What are NK cells?

Answer 2

• Natural Killer cells
• large, granular lymphocytes
• similar to CTL but no VDL recomb
• have NK receptors which detect stressed cells (like viral infected or tumors) –> innate
• also can detect IgG antibodies on a cell that doesn’t express NK ligand; induce apoptosis; not MHC restricted like CTL, so anyone’s leukocytes work

Question 3

What is a BiTE?

Answer 3

• couple two single-chain antibodies together, one against CD19 (B cell) and other other against CD3 (T cell receptor); this binds T cells using CD3 to CD19 B cell lymphoma cell