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Dictionary of Allergies .. Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies produced by homogeneous populations of hybrid cells which have many uses including the identification of T-cell subset markers. Hybridoma technology involves the fusion of a normal murine antibody-producing cell with a murine neoplastic plasma cell. The hybrid cells are cloned to establish individual cell lines producing antibodies of the desired specificity. By far, the most important outcome of the hybridoma technology is that it allows the generation of unlimited amounts of homogeneous antibodies that can be produced indefinitely.

Polyclonal antibodies have been used for years in virtually every area of biology and medicine to identify, quantify, classify, and purify minor components of complex biologic systems. We already depend heavily on antibodies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases, as well as for many assays in clinical immunology laboratories.

The value of these immunologic assays has been limited by difficulty in generating reagents of predictable quality and specificity. Antibody content (yield) may vary qualitatively and quantitatively, and apparently purified antigens used to induce antibody formation may be contaminated with small amounts of macromolecules capable of inducing large quantities of unwanted antibody. Even high-titer-specific antiserum is composed of antibodies heterogeneous in their affinity, biologic activity, and cross-reactivity.

Once a specific hybridoma has been generated, however, all of these difficulties disappear. It is now theoretically possible to tailor serological reagents for any need. The enormous impact of this technology is obvious if one examines a few of the many situations to which it has already been successfully applied.


References

Bloch, K.J., Salvagio, J.E.: Use and interpretation of Diagnostic Immunologic Laboratory Tests. JAMA, 1982:248(20) 2734.

Γκέλης Ν.Δ. - Λεξικό Αλλεργίας - Εκδόσεις ΒΕΛΛΕΡOΦΟΝΤΗΣ - Κόρινθος 2013

Gelis Ν.D. - Dictionary of Allergies - VELLEROFONTIS Publications - Corinth 2013