FUNCTIONAL ISOTYPE SWITCHING OF CHIMAERIC ANTIBODY CHAINS & CHIMAERIC ANIMALS EXPRESSING DIFFERENT IGH ISOTYPES

摘要

The invention discloses methods for the generation of chimaeric humannon-human antibodies and chimaeric antibody chains, antibodies and antibody chains so produced, and derivatives thereof including fully humanised antibodies; compositions comprising said antibodies, antibody chains and derivatives, as well as cells, non-human mammals and vectors, suitable for use in said methods. The invention provides non-human mammals that comprise transgenic heavy chain loci (having human variable region gene segments) and that express different IgH isotypes. As well as a range of normal IgH isotypes produced in vivo, aspects of the invention provide normal serum Ig levels and spleen B-cell compartments.