Final answer:
Monoclonal antibodies treat autoimmune diseases by targeting and modulating specific components of the immune system that contribute to the disease. They are produced by fusing myeloma cells with mouse antibody-producing B cells, and humanized to prevent an immune response in humans. These antibodies provide specificity in treatment and minimize side effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Monoclonal Antibodies Treat Autoimmune Diseases
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used to treat autoimmune diseases by being highly specific to antigens involved in the disease process. They work by targeting certain cells or proteins in the immune system that are responsible for the autoimmune response. To produce mAbs, myeloma cells are fused with the antibody-producing B cells from a mouse that has been immunized with the antigen. The resulting hybridoma cells produce monoclonal antibodies that are specific to a single epitope of an antigen. However, since direct use of mouse monoclonal antibodies in humans could lead to an immune reaction, the mouse antibodies are humanized. This involves genetically engineering the mouse-derived mAb to replace its constant regions with those of a human antibody, reducing the mouse component to just the antigen-binding sites. Humanized mAbs have shown efficacy in treating diseases, including autoimmune conditions, by blocking aberrant immune responses while minimizing side effects.
The application of mAbs in treating autoimmune diseases often involves suppressing or modulating the immune system to stop it from attacking the body's own tissues. For example, in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, mAbs can be designed to bind to and inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines or their receptors, thereby reducing inflammation and tissue damage.