Mouse anti-human antibodies are secondary antibodies generated by immunizing mice with human immunoglobulins. These antibodies are affinity-purified and have well-characterized specificity for human immunoglobulins . They are commonly used in various detection systems, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry .
Mouse anti-human antibodies offer increased versatility and sensitivity through signal amplification, as multiple secondary antibodies can bind to a single primary antibody . They are used in research to detect, sort, or purify specific human targets. These antibodies can be further purified and modified through techniques like immunoaffinity chromatography, antibody fragmentation, and label conjugation to generate highly specific reagents .
One potential issue with using mouse anti-human antibodies is the development of the human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response. This response is essentially an allergic reaction to the mouse antibodies, which can range from mild forms, like a rash, to more severe and life-threatening responses, such as kidney failure .