P1 4.3.2 Monoclonal antibodies (will come up) Flashcards
How are monoclonal antibodies produced (spec version)
They are produced by stimulating mouse lymphocytes to make a particular antibody. The lymphocytes are combined with a tumour cell to make a hybridoma cell
The hybridoma cell can both divide and make the antibody.
Single hybridoma cells are cloned to produce many identical cells that all produce the same antibody. A large amount of the antibody can be collected and purified.
What is an antigen
A protein that produces an immune response
What is an antibody
A protein made by white blood cells that is complimentary to antigen
Why are both lymphocytes and tumour cells used
Lymphocytes produce antibodies but they cant divide
Tumour cells cant produce antibodies but they do divide very quickly
How are monoclonal antibodies produced (Mr Winter version)
Mouse is given only 1 disease
A lymphocyte is removed from the mouse
It combines with a tumour cell to create a hybridoma cell
The antibody producing cell divides by mitosis
The antibodies are then removed
How do monoclonal antibodies work
Monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells.
The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so are able to target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body.
What are monoclonal antibodies used for
Pregnancy tests
To treat some diseases eg cancer
In research to locate or identify specific molecules on a cell or in a tissue
To test blood samples for certain pathogens in laboratories
To measure levels of hormones and other chemicals by binding to them in a lab
What happens on a pregnancy test if your pregnant
In the reaction zone if HCG is present it binds to the complimentary monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies with HCG bind to the fixed antibodies in the test zone and release dye
At the control zone monoclonal antibodies bind to left over antibodies and release dye
How can cancer be treated with monoclonal antibodies
Cancer cells have antigens which aren’t found on normal body cells, you can make monoclonal antibodies that will bind to these
An anti-cancer drug can be attached to these monoclonal antibodies.
The antibodies are given to the patient through a drip
The antibodies target specific cells because they only bind to tumour markers
The drug kills the cancer cells but doesn’t kill any normal cells near the tumour
Problems with monoclonal antibodies
They cause more side effects than originally expected eg fever, vomiting, low blood pressure
When they were first developed scientists thought that because they targeted a very specific cell or molecule side effects would be minimal
They are not as widely used as treatments as were originally thought to be
