BACKGROUND A new immunoassay for free light chain measurements has been reported to be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of monoclonal light chain diseases and nonsecretory myeloma. We describe experience with and some potential pitfalls of the assay. METHODS The assay was assessed for precision, sample type and stability, recovery, and harmonization of results between two analyzers on ...

By screening a cDNA library constructed from aortic total RNA derived from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits by differential hybridization, we have obtained a cDNA encoding the kappa light chain of immunoglobulin. Northern blot analysis of total RNA prepared from aortas of WHHL and normal rabbits of various ages revealed that this light-chain mRNA accumulates gradually with age i...

Human G myeloma (7S gamma(2)-myeloma) proteins were investigated for relationships between Gm and Inv genetic factors and the different antigenic types of heavy polypeptide chains (gamma-chains) and light polypeptide chains. Myeloma proteins were isolated from the sera of 1 Chinese, 60 white and 28 Negro individuals. These 89 proteins were tested for eight Gm factors [Gm(a), Gm(x), Gm(b(2)), Gm...

B cell Ag receptor editing is a process that can change kappa antigen recognition specificity of a B cell receptor through secondary gene rearrangements on the same allele. In this study we used a model mouse pre-B cell line (38B9) to examine factors that might affect allelic targeting of secondary rearrangements of the kappa locus. We isolated clones that showed both productive and nonproducti...

The heterogeneity of human circulating anticoagulants against antihemophilic factor (AHF, factor VIII) observed in seven patients, both with and without classic hemophilia, was investigated by neutralization of their activity with antiserums directed to whole IgG and to lambda and kappa light chains. All seven anticoagulants were immunoglobulins. Six appeared to contain both kinds of light chai...

Allelic exclusion is established in development through a feedback mechanism in which the assembled immunoglobulin (Ig) suppresses further V(D)J rearrangement. But Ig expression sometimes fails to prevent further rearrangement. In autoantibody transgenic mice, reactivity of immature B cells with autoantigen can induce receptor editing, in which allelic exclusion is transiently prevented or reve...

Morphological and immunological studies of four cases of leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis are reported. The findings indicate that leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis is a monoclonal B cell neoplasm in which the leukaemic cell expresses either Kappa or lambda light chain and delta heavy chain determinants. The similarity between this disease and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is discussed.

Immunoglobulin synthesis by 16 long-term suspension cultures of mononuclear cells derived from peripheral blood of nine patients with heterophile-positive infectious mononucleosis (IM) has been demonstrated by radioimmunoelectrophoretic techniques. All cell lines synthesized molecules with IgG (gamma) heavy chain specificity. 14 cell lines produced molecules with IgM (mu) heavy chain specificit...