Monoclonal antibodies Flashcards
What is the name of the white blood cell that produce antibodies
Antibodies are produced by white blood cells called lymphocytes.
Define monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies come from cells that are cloned from one cell. They can be produced and used over a long period of time.
Describe how monoclonal antibodies are produced
A mouse is injected with a specific antigen to stimulate lymphocytes to make a particular antibody
Extracted lymphocytes are then combined with a particular kind of tumour cell. Detergents are used to break down the cell membranes of both cells to help them fuse
This makes a hybridoma cell, which can divide and make antibodies
Single hybridoma cells are cloned to produce many identical cells that all produce the same antibody. These are Monoclonal Antibodies.
A large amount of Monoclonal Antibodies are collected and purified
Why is a mouse used
A mouse has lymphocytes ( a type of white blood cell) that can produce specific antibodies (however it cannot divide by mitosis)
Why are tumour cells used
Tumour cells are very good at dividing by mitosis (however it cannot make antibodies)
Define hybridomas
Hybridomas are cells created during the production of monoclonal antibodies by the fusion of an antibody-specific lymphocyte and a tumour cell
Why are hybridomas so useful
Hybridoma cells produce specific antibodies and can divide by mitosis
What are monoclonal antibodies produced from. What does this mean - AND STATE THE BENEFIT OF THIS.
Monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of hybridoma cells.
That means that monoclonal antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen
The benefit of this is that monoclonal antibodies can target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body.
That means that monoclonal antibodies have a large number of uses.
State the uses of Monoclonal antibodies
Uses:
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
Diagnosis of disease
To treat some diseases
Explain how monoclonal antibodies are used for diagnosis such as in pregnancy tests
Pregnancy tests rely on monoclonal antibodies which bind to a hormone (HCG) which is made in the early stages of pregnancy.
Tiny amounts of the hormone are passed out of the body in the urine. This is what is picked up by the monoclonal antibodies in the pregnancy test.
Monoclonal antibodies in the pregnancy test bind to the hormone if it is present and this is used to produce the colour change that signals a positive result
Explain how monoclonal antibodies are used for diagnosis of disease
Monoclonal antibodies can be made which bind to specific antigens found on pathogens, or blood clots or on cancer cells.
The monoclonal antibodies can also carry markers which make it easy for doctors to see where they have built up.
This allows doctors to detect problems before they seriously affect a persons health.
E.g. the blood test for prostate cancer uses monoclonal antibodies to bind to prostate-specific antigens.
State the use of Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of disease
Monoclonal antibodies can be used to carry drugs to specific tissues. Because they bind to the antigens in a tumour, for example, they can be used to take drugs or radioactive substances directly to the cancer cell.
State the disadvantages of monoclonal antibodies
Using mABs in humans creates more side effects than expected
It is very expensive for the NHS to produce safe and consistent mABs
It is difficult to get the right antibodies and attach a compound to it
Body cells can be harmed
State the advantages of mABs
When mABs are used as a cancer treatment it has a number of advantages over radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the treatment of cancer is that healthy body cells are unaffected, because mABs only combine with the specific cancer cells being treated, unlike drug and radiotherapy treatments which are less targeted
Side effects can be treated and reduce using mice-human hybrid cells or by using fractions of antibodies
They bind to specific diseased cells or damaged cells needing treatment
They treat a wide range of conditions
They are used in different ways
Explain how the pregnancy test strip works to show a positive result
As urine passes through the reaction zone
HCG binds to the mobile HCG antibody (in the reaction zone)
As urine (passes up the stick) the HCG hormone binds to the immobilised HCG antibodies results zone
The other antibodies which do not attach to the HCG bind to the antibodies in the control zone
Blue die appear in both control and results zones to show a positive result.
