Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin
Immunotoxins are antibody-toxin bifunctional molecules that rely on intracellular toxin action to kill target cells. Target specificity is determined via the binding attributes of the chosen antibody. Mostly, but not exclusively, immunotoxins are purpose-built to kill cancer cells as part of novel t...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2013-08-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/5/8/1486 |
| _version_ | 1828152284324823040 |
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| author | David FitzGerald Antonella Antignani |
| author_facet | David FitzGerald Antonella Antignani |
| author_sort | David FitzGerald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Immunotoxins are antibody-toxin bifunctional molecules that rely on intracellular toxin action to kill target cells. Target specificity is determined via the binding attributes of the chosen antibody. Mostly, but not exclusively, immunotoxins are purpose-built to kill cancer cells as part of novel treatment approaches. Other applications for immunotoxins include immune regulation and the treatment of viral or parasitic diseases. Here we discuss the utility of protein toxins, of both bacterial and plant origin, joined to antibodies for targeting cancer cells. Finally, while clinical goals are focused on the development of novel cancer treatments, much has been learned about toxin action and intracellular pathways. Thus toxins are considered both medicines for treating human disease and probes of cellular function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:09:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16f8bf011436456e9c9b6e97576e30c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:09:34Z |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-16f8bf011436456e9c9b6e97576e30c32022-12-22T04:00:36ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512013-08-01581486150210.3390/toxins5081486Immunotoxins: The Role of the ToxinDavid FitzGeraldAntonella AntignaniImmunotoxins are antibody-toxin bifunctional molecules that rely on intracellular toxin action to kill target cells. Target specificity is determined via the binding attributes of the chosen antibody. Mostly, but not exclusively, immunotoxins are purpose-built to kill cancer cells as part of novel treatment approaches. Other applications for immunotoxins include immune regulation and the treatment of viral or parasitic diseases. Here we discuss the utility of protein toxins, of both bacterial and plant origin, joined to antibodies for targeting cancer cells. Finally, while clinical goals are focused on the development of novel cancer treatments, much has been learned about toxin action and intracellular pathways. Thus toxins are considered both medicines for treating human disease and probes of cellular function.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/5/8/1486immunotoxinantibodytoxincancerimmunotherapyapoptosistranslocationricindiphtheriaPseudomonas |
| spellingShingle | David FitzGerald Antonella Antignani Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin Toxins immunotoxin antibody toxin cancer immunotherapy apoptosis translocation ricin diphtheria Pseudomonas |
| title | Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin |
| title_full | Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin |
| title_fullStr | Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin |
| title_short | Immunotoxins: The Role of the Toxin |
| title_sort | immunotoxins the role of the toxin |
| topic | immunotoxin antibody toxin cancer immunotherapy apoptosis translocation ricin diphtheria Pseudomonas |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/5/8/1486 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidfitzgerald immunotoxinstheroleofthetoxin AT antonellaantignani immunotoxinstheroleofthetoxin |