Patent ID: 8133744
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: A61K,C07K,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method of producing antibodies that are specific to hidden epitopes of immunoglobulin light chains, said hidden epitopes being epitopes that are hidden when a light chain is bound to a heavy chain and which are not available for binding to antibodies in a whole immunoglobulin, the method comprising: making antibodies to a selected part P of an immunoglobulin molecule ZP, a Z molecule comprising the non-selected part of the molecule ZP, P being the selected part of the molecule ZP which comprises a hidden epitope of the light chain, wherein said method comprises tolerising the immune system of a source of antibodies to the Z molecule or a part of the Z molecule that hides the selected part P, by administering to the antibody source a compound containing the non-selected part Z or a part of non-selected part Z of the molecule ZP and also administering to the antibody source antibodies to the non-selected part Z or part of Z of the immunoglobulin molecule ZP; wherein these administered antibodies are specific to an Fc region of the immunoglobulin molecule ZP; and immunising the source of antibodies with part of ZP having the selected part P exposed, and allowing the source of antibodies to produce antibodies to said selected part P of the immunoglobulin molecule ZP; and wherein said non-selected part Z comprises non-hidden epitopes of said immunoglobulin molecule, and wherein said compound containing the non-selected part of said molecule comprises a whole immunoglobulin, and wherein immunising the source of antibodies with part of ZP comprises immunising with free light chain.