Antibody or immunoglobulin therapy, also known as monoclonal antibody therapy, involves using specially made proteins that function as immune cells would to treat a wide range of health conditions. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are bioengineered proteins designed to interact with specific targets called antigens, which can be found on the surface of pathogens, cancer cells, or cells involved in inflammatory processes.

Monoclonal antibodies are synthesized by a single clone of B cells, making them monospecific, meaning they have affinity for the same epitope. Because of this specificity, mAbs can be designed to bind to virtually any target, making them a powerful therapeutic tool in numerous conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, infections, and cancer (Kaplon, H., & Reichert, J. M., 2018).

Cancer treatment is one of the most well-known applications of monoclonal antibody therapy. Monoclonal antibodies for cancer can work through several mechanisms. They can be designed to flag cancer cells for destruction by the immune system, block growth signals, stop the formation of new blood vessels that feed cancer cells, or even deliver radioactive substances or toxins directly to the cancer cells (Scott, A. M., Wolchok, J. D., & Old, L. J., 2012). Prominent examples include rituximab for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and trastuzumab for breast cancer (Coiffier, B., et al., 2002; Piccart-Gebhart, M. J., et al., 2005).

In autoimmune diseases, monoclonal antibodies can be used to target specific components of the immune system to reduce inflammation and prevent tissue damage. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, monoclonal antibodies like adalimumab and infliximab target tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a significant role in promoting inflammatory responses (Smolen, J. S., et al., 2007).

Monoclonal antibody therapy is also utilized in managing infectious diseases. For instance, monoclonal antibodies have been developed against respiratory syncytial virus (palivizumab), and more recently, against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 (casirivimab, imdevimab) (Johnson, S., et al., 1997; Weinreich, D. M., et al., 2021). They work by neutralizing the virus and preventing it from entering host cells.

Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies can be used in allergy and asthma, where they target and neutralize specific immune substances, like IgE (omalizumab) or interleukin-5 (mepolizumab), reducing the inflammatory response that leads to symptoms (Normansell, R., et al., 2014; Pavord, I. D., et al., 2012).

Monoclonal antibody therapy is a versatile and potent tool in modern medicine, offering targeted treatments for a wide array of conditions. The ongoing research and development of new monoclonal antibodies promise to expand their therapeutic applications further.

References:

Kaplon, H., & Reichert, J. M. (2018). Antibodies to watch in 2018. mAbs, 10(2), 183-203.
Scott, A. M., Wolchok, J. D., & Old, L. J. (2012). Antibody therapy of cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 12(4), 278-287.
Coiffier, B., et al. (2002). Rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) for the treatment of patients with relapsing or refractory aggressive lymphoma: a multicenter phase II study. Blood, 92(6), 1927-1932.
Piccart-Gebhart, M. J., et al. (2005). Trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer. The New England journal of medicine, 353(16), 1659-1672.
Smolen, J. S., et al. (2007). Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ASSERT). Arthritis & Rheumatism, 56(2), 692-701.
Johnson, S., et al. (1997). A direct comparison of the activities of two humanized respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibodies: MEDI-493 and RSHZl9. The Journal of infectious diseases, 176(3), 675-683.
Weinreich, D. M., et al. (2021). REGN-COV2, a Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail, in Outpatients with Covid-19. The New England journal of medicine, 384(3), 238-251.
Normansell, R., et al. (2014). Omalizumab for asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1).
Pavord, I. D., et al. (2012). Mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma (DREAM): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 380(9842), 651-659.

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