Understanding Monoclonal Antibodies

Aug 6, 2024

Monoclonal Antibodies Lecture Notes

Introduction

  • Presenter: Tom from Zero to Finals
  • Topic: Monoclonal antibodies
  • Relevance: Increasing number of monoclonal antibody treatments with potential to revolutionize treatment for severe conditions.

Background on Immunology

  • Focus: B-cells and antibodies
  • B-cells: Part of the specific immune system, have antibodies specific to a single antigen.
    • Example: B-cell specific to a virus like the common cold.
    • Activation: B-cells multiply and become essential to the immune response when encountering their specific antigen.
  • Differentiation: Upon activation, B-cells become plasma cells or memory B-cells.
    • Plasma cells: Produce large amounts of specific antibodies.
    • Memory B-cells: Provide long-term immune memory.

Antibodies (Immunoglobulins)

  • Structure: Two heavy chains and two light chains arranged in a Y shape.
    • FC portion: Base of the Y, used for binding to immune cells.
    • Variable region: Top of the Y, matches specific antigens.
  • Functions: Aid the immune response in various ways:
    1. Complement system activation: Destroys pathogens by forming antibody-antigen complexes.
    2. Neutralization: Bind to and neutralize toxins produced by pathogens.
    3. Receptor disruption: Prevents pathogens from invading cells or taking in nutrients.
    4. Agglutination: Clump pathogens to slow spread.
    5. Opsonization: Makes pathogens easier for phagocytes to recognize and destroy.
    6. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity: Helps immune cells recognize and kill pathogens.

Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Definition: Single type of antibody targeting a specific protein.
  • Development: Produced in a lab and injected into patients.
  • Mechanism: Travel to target protein, activate immune system, and attack target.
  • Uses: Utilize the patient's immune system in a targeted way for specific conditions.

Examples of Monoclonal Antibodies

  1. Rituximab
    • Target: CD20 protein on B-cells
    • Uses: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  2. Alemtuzumab
    • Target: CD52 protein on T and B lymphocytes
    • Uses: Multiple sclerosis, certain types of leukemia
  3. Trastuzumab
    • Target: HER2 receptor protein
    • Uses: HER2 positive breast cancer
  4. Adalimumab and Infliximab
    • Target: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
    • Uses: Inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis
  5. Ranibizumab
    • Target: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)
    • Uses: Wet age-related macular degeneration, injected into the eye

Conclusion

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