How are antibodies produced in large quantities for therapeutic use?

Antibodies for therapeutic use are produced in large quantities through a process called monoclonal antibody production.

Monoclonal antibody production is a method used to create identical antibodies that can target specific cells or proteins. This process begins with the immunisation of a mammal, often a mouse, with the antigen that the desired antibody will target. The immune system of the mammal responds to the antigen by producing B-cells, each of which produces a unique antibody that can bind to the antigen.

The next step involves the extraction of these B-cells from the spleen of the immunised mammal. These cells are then fused with myeloma cells, a type of cancer cell that can replicate indefinitely. The fusion of these two cells results in a hybridoma cell, which has the antibody-producing ability of the B-cell and the longevity and replicative ability of the myeloma cell.

The hybridoma cells are then cultured in a laboratory, where they continue to divide and produce the desired antibody. These cells are often grown in large bioreactors, where conditions such as temperature, pH, and nutrient supply can be carefully controlled to optimise antibody production.

Once a sufficient quantity of antibodies has been produced, they are purified from the culture medium through a series of filtration and chromatography steps. This ensures that the final product is free from any unwanted substances, such as residual cells or culture medium components.

The resulting monoclonal antibodies are highly specific and can be used for a variety of therapeutic purposes, including the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. They work by binding to their target antigen and either neutralising it directly or marking it for destruction by the immune system.

In summary, the production of antibodies for therapeutic use involves the immunisation of a mammal, extraction and fusion of B-cells with myeloma cells, culturing of hybridoma cells, and purification of the produced antibodies. This process allows for the large-scale production of highly specific antibodies for use in various medical treatments.