Final answer:
Monoclonal antibodies, specifically drugs like cyclosporine, are employed to treat inflammatory disorders and prevent transplant rejection by suppressing specific immune system functions. They are tailored to be compatible with the human immune system to minimize adverse reactions and improve the success of organ transplants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monoclonal antibodies are a type of medication used to treat various medical conditions, including inflammatory disorders and preventing the rejection of transplants. One example of a monoclonal antibody is cyclosporine, which is used to suppress immune system rejection in organ transplants by inhibiting the production of interleukin-2, a cytokine messenger that activates T cells. These immunosuppressive drugs are crucial in ensuring the body does not reject the transplanted organ.
Tissue typing is essential in transplantation to match the MHC molecules of donor and recipient to minimize the immune response. Histocompatibility, or the similarity of tissue types between the donor and recipient, plays a significant role in the success of organ transplants.
Humanized monoclonal antibodies, such as Herceptin for treating certain breast cancers, exemplify the clinical uses of these medications, as they can be engineered to be largely "human" to minimize rejection by the patient's immune system.