How are monoclonal antibodies produced and used in medicine?

Monoclonal antibodies are produced in a lab using hybridoma technology and are used in medicine for diagnosis and treatment.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell. They are produced using a method known as hybridoma technology. This process involves the fusion of a specific type of white blood cell, called a B lymphocyte, with a cancer cell. The resulting hybrid cell, or hybridoma, has the ability to both reproduce indefinitely, like a cancer cell, and produce a specific antibody, like a B lymphocyte. This allows for the production of large quantities of identical antibodies, hence the term 'monoclonal'.

In medicine, monoclonal antibodies have a wide range of applications. They are used in diagnostic tests, where they can bind to specific antigens (substances that trigger an immune response) and indicate the presence of a particular disease. For example, pregnancy tests use monoclonal antibodies to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy.

Monoclonal antibodies are also used in therapy, particularly in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. In cancer treatment, mAbs can be designed to bind to specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells. This can either trigger the immune system to attack the cancer cells, or it can block signals that tell the cancer cells to grow and divide. In the treatment of autoimmune diseases, mAbs can be used to target and neutralise specific immune cells or proteins that are causing harm.

Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies can be used in 'targeted therapy'. This involves attaching a radioactive substance, a toxin, or a drug to the mAbs. When these mAbs bind to their target cells, they deliver the attached substance directly to the cells, minimising damage to healthy cells.

In summary, the production of monoclonal antibodies involves the fusion of B lymphocytes with cancer cells to create hybridomas, which can produce large quantities of identical antibodies. These mAbs have a wide range of applications in medicine, from diagnostic tests to targeted therapy for cancer and autoimmune diseases.