Myeloma protein
Encyclopedia
Myeloma Protein is usually a monoclonal antibody or immunoglobulin fragment that is produced by malignant
myeloma cells, or plasma cells.
Other terms for this protein is M-protein, spike protein,or paraprotein
. This proliferation of the myeloma protein has several deleterious effects on the body, including impaired immune function, abnormally high viscosity
("thickness") of the blood, and kidney
damage.
Myeloma is a malignancy of the plasma cell. Plasma cells produce immunoglobulins, which are commonly called antibodies. There are literally thousands of different antibodies, each consisting of pairs of heavy and light chains. Antibodies are typically grouped into five types: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. When someone contracts myeloma, a malignant clone, a rogue plasma cell, reproduces in an uncontrolled fashion, resulting in overproduction of the specific antibody that it was designed to produce. Each type of antibody has a different number of light chain and heavy chain pairs. As a result, there is a characteristic normal distribution of plasma cells in the blood by molecular weight. When there is a malignant clone, there is usually overproduction of a single antibody, resulting in a "spike" on the normal distribution, which is called an M spike (or monoclonal spike). People will sometimes develop a condition called MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
), where there is overproduction of one antibody but the condition is benign (does not threaten the patient's health). An explanation of the difference between multiple myeloma and MGUS can be found in the International Myeloma Foundation's Patient Handbook and Concise Review
Malignant
Malignancy is the tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively worse and to potentially result in death. Malignancy in cancers is characterized by anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis...
myeloma cells, or plasma cells.
Other terms for this protein is M-protein, spike protein,or paraprotein
Paraprotein
A paraprotein is an immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin light-chain that is produced in excess by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells. Detection of paraproteins in the urine or blood is most often associated with benign MGUS , where they remain "silent", and multiple myeloma. An excess in the...
. This proliferation of the myeloma protein has several deleterious effects on the body, including impaired immune function, abnormally high viscosity
Viscosity
Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear or tensile stress. In everyday terms , viscosity is "thickness" or "internal friction". Thus, water is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity...
("thickness") of the blood, and kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
damage.
Myeloma is a malignancy of the plasma cell. Plasma cells produce immunoglobulins, which are commonly called antibodies. There are literally thousands of different antibodies, each consisting of pairs of heavy and light chains. Antibodies are typically grouped into five types: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. When someone contracts myeloma, a malignant clone, a rogue plasma cell, reproduces in an uncontrolled fashion, resulting in overproduction of the specific antibody that it was designed to produce. Each type of antibody has a different number of light chain and heavy chain pairs. As a result, there is a characteristic normal distribution of plasma cells in the blood by molecular weight. When there is a malignant clone, there is usually overproduction of a single antibody, resulting in a "spike" on the normal distribution, which is called an M spike (or monoclonal spike). People will sometimes develop a condition called MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance , formerly benign monoclonal gammopathy, is a condition in which a paraprotein is found in the blood during standard laboratory tests...
), where there is overproduction of one antibody but the condition is benign (does not threaten the patient's health). An explanation of the difference between multiple myeloma and MGUS can be found in the International Myeloma Foundation's Patient Handbook and Concise Review