Myeloma and Other Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Flashcards
What are B cells derived from?
Pluripotent haematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow
What is the role of B cells?
Part of adaptive immune system
Dual roles: antibody production, acting as APCs
What are Immunoglobulins?
Antibodies produced by B or plasma cells
Proteins made up of 2 heavy ((μ, α, δ, γ, ε) and 2 light chains (κ or λ)
Each Ab recognises a specific Ag
What is the structure of IgD, E and G?
Monomer
What is the structure of IgA?
Dimer
What is the structure of IgM?
Pentamer
What is the Ig variable element of B-cells generated from?
V-D-J region recombination early in development
Describe B cell development
Initial production/development in marrow
Under control/influence of microenvironment
Ig variable element generated
Self-reactive cells removed
Immature B cells with Ig on their surface exit bone marrow ready to meet target
From IgM Pro B cells, what is then produced?
IgM and IgD Pre B cells in marrow, then: IgM B cells, which produce IgM plasma cells IgA IgE IgG, which produce plasma cells
Describe B cells in the periphery
Travel to the follicle germinal centre of the LN
Identify the antigen and improve the fit by somatic mutation or be deleted
May return to the marrow as plasma cell or circulate as memory cell
Describe plasma cells
Factory cells Pumps out Ab Eccentric clock face nucleus on H&E Open chromatin- synthesising mRNA Plentiful blue cytoplasm- laden with protein Pale perinuclear area- Golgi apparatus
What will polyclonal Ig’s be reactive to?
Infection
AI
Malignancy-reaction of host to malignant clone
Liver disease
What is a monoclonal Ig?
Paraprotein- marker of underlying clonal B-cell disorder
How are Ig’s detected?
Serum electrophoresis- separated serum proteins appear as distinct bands or zones
What is the most -vely charged molecule found on electrophoresis?
Albumin
What is contained in the alpha-1 band?
Alpha 1 antitrypsin
What is contained in the alpha 2 band?
Alpha 2 macroglobulin, caeruloplasmin, haptoglobin