Variable fragments of heavy chain antibodies (VHHs): a new magic bullet molecule of medicine?
Serum of animals belonging to the Camelidae family (camels and llamas) contains fully active antibodies that are naturally devoid of light chains. Variable domains derived from heavy chain antibodies (hcAb) called VHHs or nanobodies™ can bind antigens as effectively as full-length antibodies and are easy to clone and express. Because of their potential, VHHs are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging tools. The paper reviews the molecular background of heavy chain antibodies and describes methods of obtaining recombinant fragments of heavy chain antibodies as well as their therapeutic, diagnostic and other applications.
Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Immunochemistry, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
Dorota
D
Smolarek
Olivier
O
Bertrand
Marcin
M
Czerwinski
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005399:Fishes; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061905:Single-Domain Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013045:Species Specificity
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D061905:Single-Domain Antibodies