Benefits, limitations and ethics of monoclonal antibodies - Higher
Benefits
monoclonal antibodyIdentical copies of an antibody produced by fusing a spleen cell with a cancerous white blood cell which can be designed to bind to many different substances. can be designed to bind to, and identify, almost any substance. They are used to test for pregnancy by detecting HCG hormones in urine, as well as detecting other hormoneChemical messenger produced in glands and carried by the blood to specific organs in the body. in the blood, and diseases such as HIVHuman Immunodeficiency Virus, a disease which damages cells in the immune system. and AIDSAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 鈥 a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)., herpes and chlamydia. They can also be used to treat conditions like cancer by carrying drugs directly to the tumour cells, and helping the immune systemThe body's defence system against entry of any foreign body, including pathogens and agents such as pollen grains. The role of the immune system is to prevent disease. attack them. Making monoclonal antibodies for the first time can be time consuming. When they have been made, they can then be produced quickly.
Limitations
The human body is very complicated. Scientists originally thought that monoclonal antibodies would be a 'magic bullet' and would be able to identify and treat many medical conditions. Tests have revealed, however, that this is not the case. The interactions in the human body have resulted in some unwanted side effects. This means they are not as widely used by doctors as originally thought.
Monoclonal antibodies are also very expensive to produce.
Ethical issues
An ethicsHaving morals and principles and 'doing the right thing', irrespective of profit. issue is one in which people disagree for religious or other moral reasons. The first step in making a monoclonal antibody is to inject a mouse with an antigenA protein on the surface of a substance (often a pathogen) that triggers an immune response.. After it has produced antibodyA protein produced by the immune system in humans (and other animals) that attacks foreign organisms (antigens) that get into the body., a small operation removes spleen cells, which then continue make the antibodies. Some people disagree with this use of animals to produce monoclonal antibodies.
In 2006 a drug trial involving humans and using monoclonal antibodies to treat conditions such as arthritis A medical condition often found in older people which causes pain and inflammation of the joints. and leukemiaCancer of the blood cells. went wrong. The individuals involved in the trial did not die, but despite monoclonal antibodies being given in very low doses, this resulted in organ failure. The monoclonal antibodies had been safely used in other animal trials before being used in human trials and the side effects were unexpected. This is an example of how careful we must be during drug development.