Monoclonal Antibodies

Introduction:

Monoclonal antibodies are the antibodies derived from a single B-cell clone and are specific for single epitope. In 1975, George Kohler and Ceasar Milstein developed a method for preparing monoclonal antibodies. They were produced by Hybridoma Technology. A hybrid cell called Hybridoma, is made by the fusion of normal activated antibody producing B-cell with a myeloma cell. Plama B-cell are capable of producing antibodies and Myeloma cells have immortal growth properties. This Hybridoma has properties of both of these cells.

Procedure:

1. Mix spleen cells from a mouse that has been immunized with the desired antigen, with Myeloma cells.
2. Use a Fusogen to facilitate fusion of plasma membrane like PEG.
3. Cell Fusion Mixture is transferred to HAT selection Medium. HAT contains Hypoxanthine Aminopterin and Thymidine. 

Result:

1. Unfused Myeloma cells cannot grow because they lack HGPRT .
2. Unfused Normal Spleen cells cannot grown indefinitely because of their limited life span.
3. Hybridoma cells are able to grow indefinitely on HAT medium because spleen cells provide HGPRT and myeloma cells provide Immortality.

Clinical Uses:

1. Monoclonal antibody is used in diagnostic and therapeutic agents in clinical medicine.
2. They are also used for detecting pregnancy, pathogenic micro-organisms, to measure the concentration of various drugs in the blood.