Anticuerpos Monoclonales

Monoclonal antibodies are specialized glucoproteins (immunoglobulins - Ig) that belong to the immune system, and are produced by the B cells and plasma cells.They differentiate from other antibodies because they recognize one specific part of the antigen. Due to their binding specificity, they are very important tools inclinical practice and biotechnology; in the latter they are useful for immunotherapy. The incorporation of molecular biology and genetic engineering to themonoclonal antibodies production allowed the development of different types of antibodies like murine (they are very valid for therapeutic uses but not useful forhuman beings), chimeric (the incorporation of a human part with an animal part; the animal part -30%- is required so the immune system can be able to recognize deantigen, and the human part -70%- is responsible for the effectiveness of the immune system) and humanizated (contains 90% of human material that reduces theimmunogenicity.) The production of monoclonal antibodies begins by obtaining a hybridoma, as a result from the fusion of a lymphocyte and a tumoral cell; the hybridomaneeds to be inserted again in the animal (mouse) for the production of a large quantity of monoclonal antibodies. The process of humanization is necessary forthese bodies to be appropriate for human beings. For these antibodies to be appropriate for the human being, it is needed to deal with the process of humanization.There are currently 20 monoclonal antibodies in the market approved for human use.
Key words: monoclonal antibodies, hybridoma, humanizated, chimeric, B-cells