Monoclonal Antibodies Lecture Review

These flashcards cover key concepts and details related to monoclonal antibodies, their production, structure, applications, and related technologies.

What are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)?

Monoclonal antibodies are engineered molecules that recognize a single epitope, conferring high specificity.

What are the five main classes of antibodies in mammals?

IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.

What is unique about the structure of an IgG molecule?

An IgG molecule is made up of 2 identical heavy chains and 2 identical light chains joined by disulfide bonds.

What common method is used for mAb production?

Hybridoma technology.

What was the first monoclonal antibody used for therapeutic purposes?

Muromonab-CD3, used in 1986 for treating allogenic transplant rejection.

What are therapeutic applications of mAbs?

They are used in treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and for the prevention of migraines.

How are B cells used to create hybridomas for monoclonal antibodies?

B cells from immunized animals are fused with myeloma cells to create hybridomas that can grow indefinitely.

What is a chimeric antibody?

A chimeric antibody has unaltered mouse variable regions attached to full-length human immunoglobulin constant regions.

Why is humanization of antibodies important?

Humanization reduces the risk of immunogenicity by minimizing murine sequences in the antibody.

What are the components of the HAT medium used in hybridoma selection?

Aminopterin, Hypoxanthine, and Thymidine.