title: The Cloning and Expression of Human Monoclonal Antibodies: Implications for Allergen Immunotherapy.
abstract: Allergic responses are dependent on the highly specific effector functions of IgE antibodies. Conversely, antibodies that block the activity of IgE can mediate tolerance to allergen. Technologies that harness the unparalleled specificity of antibody responses have revolutionized the way that we diagnose and treat human disease. This area of research continues to advance at a rapid pace and has had a significant impact on our understanding of allergic disease. This review will present an overview of humoral responses and provide an up-to-date summary of technologies used in the generation of human monoclonal antibodies. The impact that monoclonal antibodies have on allergic disease will be discussed, with a particular focus on allergen immunotherapy, which remains the only form of treatment that can modulate the underlying immune mechanisms and induce long-term clinical tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics and MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, SE1 1UL, London, UK. louisa.james@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Louisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal
keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; Allergy; B cells; Cloning; Human; Human monoclonal antibodies