An Introduction of Anti-idiotypic Antibodies

Posted by Jerry Carter on May 2nd, 2019

An anti-idiotype antibody represents an antibody binding to an idiotope of another antibody. Here, the word “idiotope” refers to the unique set of antigenic determinants of the variable region of an antibody. In this term of “anti-idiotype antibody,” the “idiotype” stands for the variable part of an antibody, with the unique antigen binding site included. In terms of individual antibodies, the combination of epitopes within the idiotype (i.e., the idiotopes) is unique. These anti-idiotypic antibodies are so specialized that they have been widely applied to measure the drug level in patients. Moreover, they can be used as a control in immune response research. Thus, it’s of huge importance to select an excellent platform to obtain desired anti-idiotypic antibodies.

Currently, there are four types of anti-idiotypic antibodies, which come with different features.  The anti-idiotypic antibody detecting FREE antibodies is characterized with paratope specific, inhibitory and neutralizing functions. This antibody can be used to detect free drugs in patients. The anti-idiotypic antibody detecting TOTAL antibody identifies total (free, partially bound and fully bound) drugs, neither paratope specific nor inhibitory. In contrast with the drug-target complex specific antibody detecting FREE antibody, the drug-target complex specific antibody detecting BOUND antibodies is not inhibitory, exclusively detecting bound drugs. The last type is the anti-idiotypic antibody detecting T cell receptor, which can bind to idiotypes that are epitopes present in the variable regions of the receptors of both T and B lymphocytes.

The anti-idiotype antibodys is manufactured mainly by three approaches. First, immunized phage display library technology. In this method, in vitro selection makes it possible to use  isotype-matching control antibodies as blockers, thereby avoiding the enrichment of antibodies bind to other regions of the target antibody. Second, premade non-immunized human phage display library technology. This technology requires on immunization and involves in vitro selection, a perfect choice for the conformational epitope targeting anti-idiotypic antibodies. Third, hybridomas technology. Target antibodies in scFv/Fab forms are utilized to immunize rats or mice in the presence of isotype matching control antibodies for counter-selection.

Take Creative Biolabs as an example. As a leader in antibody production and engineering, this antibody company provides striking custom anti-idiotypic antibody production and downstream assay services, conducive to the study, preclinical and clinical trials, and the development of monoclonal antibody drugs. Its anti-idiotypic antibodies production service boasts notable advantages. In the first place, the company keeps its turnaround period within only eight weeks, yet achieving a success rate of over 98%.

Then, it guarantees the resulting products have high specificity and binding affinity, and can be convert to full-length immunoglobulin as required isotype. Furthermore, Creative Biolabs promises a long-term and secure supply for preclinical research and clinical testing. Last but not the least, the company particularly specializes in offering the custom anti-idiotypic antibody production service, which covers camel, rabbit, chicken and murine anti-idiotypic antibody production service.

Nowadays, the anti-idiotypic antibody play a critical role in biomedical research, especially in antibody drug pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics studies. For instance, it is used in the immunogenicity studies of antibody drugs, preclinical research of therapeutic antibodies, the clinical development of anti-drug antibodies. On top of that, it also serves as controls in ligand binding neutralizing assays and antibody blocking assays. Given the strong specificity and affinity, the anti-idiotypic antibody is pretty likely to continue to play important parts in pharmaceutical research.

About Creative Biolabs

Creative Biolabs is a leading custom service provider, boasting rich experience in antibody production and engineering. Its service portfolio includes mouse and rat monoclonal antibody production using hybridoma technology, human, monkey, rabbit, chicken, dog, llama and camel monoclonal antibody production using various antibody library technologies. In addition, the company also conducts in-depth antibody humanization and affinity maturation.