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5.22 Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies - Coggle Diagram
5.22 Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies
Intro
Examples of the uses of monoclonal antibodies include...
In laboratories to measure the levels of hormones or chemicals
In research
In pregnancy tests
In the treatment of some diseases
Pregnancy Tests
A hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is present in the urine of women who are pregnant
The first section has mobile antibodies complementary to the hCG hormone- these antibodies are also attached to blue beads
The second section has stationary antibodies complementary to the hCG hormone which are stuck down to the stick
There are two sections of the stick
The individual urinates on the first section, and if hCG is present it binds to the mobile antibodies attached to blue beads to form hCG/antibody complexes
They are carried in the flow of liquid to the second section
The stationary antibodies then bind to the HCG/antibody complexes
As they are each bound to a blue bead, results in a blue line
This indicates that you are pregnant
In Laboratories to Analyse Blood
The antibodies are also bound to a fluorescent dye
If the molecules are in the sample then the antibodies bind to it, and the dye can be observed
The monoclonal antibodies are modified so that they will bind to the molecule you are looking for
An example is screening donated blood for HIV infections
They can be used to measure and monitor levels of hormones or chemicals in the blood
In research to find or identify certain molecules on a cell or tissue
The same method as above is applied, and scientists look for a build up of the fluorescence
In the treatment of disease, e.g. cancer
Cancer cells have antigens on their cell membranes known as tumour markers (not found on normal body cells), which can be targeted. There are three main ways to treat cancers using monoclonal antibodies
Using monoclonal antibodies to bind to receptor sites on the cell surface membrane of the cancer cells. This means growth-stimulating molecules cannot bind, stopping the cell from dividing
Using monoclonal antibodies to transport toxic drugs, chemicals or radioactive substances as they can only bind to cancer cells
) Producing monoclonal antibodies that bind to the tumour markers in order to stimulate the immune system to attack the cell
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
They can be engineered to treat many different conditions
We are now able to produce mouse-human hybrid cells to reduce the chance of triggering an immune response
They only bind to specific cells, meaning healthy cells are not affected
Disadvantages
It is difficult to attach monoclonal antibodies to drugs
They are expensive to develop
As they were produced from mice lymphocytes, they often triggered an immune response when used in humans