immunotherapy - unit 4 AOS 1

Question 1

immunotherapy

Answer 1

• Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that alters the immune response in an individual to combat diseases.
• Activation immunotherapies - aim to induce or amplify an immune response
• Suppression immunotherapies - aim to prevent or reduce an immune response.

Question 2

monoclonal antibodies

Answer 2

• Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies produced in a laboratory that bind to a specific antigen.
• produced in the laboratory by stimulating the production of B lymphocytes in mice injected with a specific type of antigen
• Because of their specificity to one antigen, monoclonal antibodies can be used to target specific types or parts of cells for a variety of therapeutic purposes

Question 3

making monoclonal antibodies

Answer 3

• Scientists vaccinate an animal, usually mice, with an antigen and results in the production of B cells
• Scientists extract these B cells from the spleen of the mice.
• The extracted B lymphocytes are fused with rapidly-dividing cancerous cells known as myeloma cells. The products of this fusion are called hybridomas.
• Hybridomas are screened so that only the cells with the appropriate antibody are selected. The hybridomas that produce the specific antibody are cloned, which results in the mass production of these antibodies.
• Antibodies are then collected and purified before being administered to a patient.

Question 4

monoclonal antibodies and cancer

Answer 4

• Monoclonal antibodies can be used as an activation immunotherapy to help the immune system recognise and kill cancer cells.
• can bind to cancer cells and cause natural killer cells to recognise it and kill it
• can block the growth of blood vessels to cancer cells
• binds to receptors on cancer cells preventing it from receiving growth factors so they wont divide
• they can block immune checkpoints

Question 5

monoclonal antibodies and autoimmune disease

Answer 5

• Monoclonal antibodies can be used as suppression immunotherapy to reduce the immune system’s attacks on self-cells that cause autoimmune disease.
• can bind to cytokines, inhibiting their function
• can bind to T and B cells and inhibit their function