Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 13.1
The basis of monoclonal antibody production by hybridoma technology
When antigen enters the body, it stimulates an immune response. A major element of this re-
sponse entails activation of selected B-lymphocytes to produce antibodies capable of binding
the antigen (the humoral immune response). The binding of antibody can reduce/inactivate the
biological activity of the antigen (especially if it is a toxin, for example), and also marks the
antigen for destruction by other elements of the immune system. Any given antibody will bind
Antibody
producing B
lymphocyte
Antibody-producting
B lymphocyte
Antigen
In-vivo
humoral
immune
response
Antibody-producing
B lymphocyte
Myeloma cell
Fuse
In-vitro
monoclonal
antibody
production
Immortalized cell
(hybridoma)
producing antibodies
of a single specificity
Figure 13.B1
Monoclonal antibody production
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