Human donor antibodies

Although specific antisera have proven invaluable in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions (Table 13.1), they can also induce unwanted side effects. Particularly noteworthy is their ability to induce hypersensitivity reactions some such sensitivity reactions (e.g. serum sickness ) are often not acute, whereas others (e.g. anaphylaxis) can be life threatening. Because of such risks, antibody preparations derived from human donors (i.e. immunoglobulins) are usually preferred as passive immunizing agents. 

Immunoglobulins are purified from the serum (or plasma) of human donors by methods similar to those used to purify animal-derived antibodies. In most instances, the immunoglobulin preparations are enriched in antibodies capable of binding to a specific antigen (usually an infectious mi-croorganism/virus). These may be purified from donated blood of individuals who have recently ... 

Several decades ago, antibodies were obtained by extraction from blood samples of immunized animals or human donors. These are polyclonal antibodies, because several different types of antibodies are obtained through this method, although IgG is normally the predominant component. The steps for obtaining polyclonal antibodies are illustrated in Fig. 4.3. 

Antibodies Derived from Human Donors Hepatitis A and B immunoglobulins, measles immunoglobulins, rabies immunoglobulin, and tetanus immunoglobulin. 

Tetanus antitoxin is routinely administered as part of the management of tetanus-prone wounds. The antibody preparation is purified from pooled serum/plasma of human donors who have been immunized with tetanus toxin. 

In addition to these molecules, naturally occurring neutralizing autoantibodies of IgG type to IL-la have been identified. These have been detected in serum isolated from human donors. [35,36]. These antibodies bind to both proIL-la and 17-kDa IL-la [37] and completely prevent the binding of IL-la to type-I cell surface receptors [38]. Patients with autoimmune diseases have higher populations of these antibodies [39]. 

Other species of hybridomas, including human, have been produced but are generally created by the use of viruses conferring cellular immortality. Artificial immunization of the donor is often not practical or ethical and so cell lines are often derived from peripheral lymphocytes obtained from individuals naturally immune to the target substance. Some human monoclonal antibody secreting cell lines have been derived from spontaneously occurring myelomas, but this line of approach frequently is unrewarding as the probability that the antibody will be one of interest is remote. 

Human tetanus immunoglobulin is a solution of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) containing a high level of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies. It is prepared from the plasma of screened, human donors immunised against tetanus toxin and is administered by intramuscular injection. The product also contains isotonic sodium chloride, glycine, as a stabiliser, sodium acetate and a small amount of sodium hydroxide used to maintain pH. The product is generally well-tolerated. 

Specific immunoglobulins, termed hyperimmune globulins, are derived from human donors known to have high titers of the desired antibody. Specific immunoglobulin preparations for use in infectious disease prevention include hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus. Varicella zoster, vaccinia, and cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin. 

Antibodies derived from human donors hepatitis A and B... 

As indicated earlier Kunkel et al. (3) observed that anti-A substance and antilevan, specifically purified from the serum of a single human donor, possessed unrelated idiotypic specificities. Similarly, Oudin and Michel (2) found that a rabbit antiserum directed to idiotypic determinants in rabbit antisalmonella antibody failed to react with anti-... 

Human IgG monoclonal antibody C5 IgG Anti-human globulin reagent for phenotyping and crossmatching red blood cells of receivers and donors M. sativa 35 S MSP + 0.13-1.0% TSP 38... 

The high molar absorptivities and quantum yields of the large protein fluorophore phycoerythrin (240,000 Da) have been exploited in energy transfer assays. Phyco-erythrin has been used as both donor and acceptor, with several bound antigen molecules per phycoerythrin molecule/86,94) The usefulness of BPE is indicated in competitive assays for human IgG that use fluorescein-labeled antibody as donor to... 

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