MURINE AND HUMANIZED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS. Review Article

Abstract

Milstein and Kohler first described monoclonal antibodies in 1975 and they were honored with a Nobel Prize for discovering monoclonal antibodies in 1980.mAb are molecules that identify foreign bodies and accord to targets that are specific in nature called antigens. A single line of cells called B lymphocytes produce mABs so they are known as monoclonal antibodies. Originally monoclonal antibodies were produced using mice, so known as mouse monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies that have therapeutic properties have been defined and their generic names end in –nab and –mab as suffixes; origin of monoclonal antibody is defined as a prefix as for human origin u- and for mouse origin 0- ; example adalimumab and muromonab respectively. The prefix that is used finally denotes the disease, the therapeutic purpose of monoclonal antibody like lim- for immune modulation, tu- for cancer, vir-for viral disease. On the basis of origin, monoclonal antibodies are classified in to four types. Two of these are of a single origin as human or murine antibodies, whereas remaining two are from both origins like some part from human and some from murine. Monoclonal antibodies having Fc portion of human and Fab portion of murine known as chimeric monoclonal antibodies. Humanized monoclonal antibody consists of human IgG and complementary determinant region known as CDR region from murine origin. Humanized antibodies are designated with zu- and chimeric are designated with xi-.Over the last few years’ progression in the development of monoclonal antibodies have matured rapidly. Over forty years ago the technique widely used for the generation of monoclonal antibodies was Hybridoma technology. In this technology myeloma cell lines are fused with primary B cells that produce antibodies. Through a strenuous process of sub cloning hybrids that produce antibodies can be developed and isolated for the binding of antigens.Monoclonal antibodies are derived from two main sources that is murine and human source, they are classified also on the basis of their origins mainly, and hybridoma and phage display techniques are chiefly used for their isolation and characterization. Monoclonal antibodies have many therapeutic uses as well such as in cardiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, oncology, hematology. New and effective ways should be used to produce new antibodies that are efficient and host specific.