Paraproteins Flashcards
What are paraproteins?
Monoclonal immunoglobulins present in the blood or urine
What is the primary role of immunoglobulins?
Recognise and bind to pathogens
What shape are immunoglobulins?
Y shaped
What do immunoglobulins consist of?
2 heavy chains and 2 light chains
What are the 2 portions of an immunoglobulin?
Fc portion
Fab region
How is the Fab region described?
Variable
What does the Fab region define?
The target binding
How is the Fc portion described?
Constant
What does the Fc portion define?
The subclass
What is the Fc portion defined by?
The heavy chains
Which part of the immunoglobulin recognises the antibody?
The Fc portion
How many main types of heavy chains are there?
5 main types of heavy chains
How many main types of immunoglobulins are there?
5 main types of immunoglobulins
What does IgG stand for?
Gamma
What is the most prevalent immunoglobulin?
IgG
What is IgA?
Alpha
What is the function of IgA?
Mucus membrane immunity
What is IgM?
Mu
What is the function of IgM?
Initial phase of antibody production
What is IgD?
Delta
What is IgE?
Epsilon
What is the function of IgE?
Parasite immunity
Hypersensitivity
What are the 2 types of light chains?
Kappa
Lambda
What determines whether the light chain will be kappa or lambda?
The B cell randomly selects
Where can free light chains be found at low levels?
In the blood
What are light chains made in excess to?
Heavy chains
How can you detect paraproteins?
With serum protein electrophoresis
How does serum electrophoresis separate proteins?
Based on size and charge
What are IgM paraproteins associated with?
Lymphoma
When and by what are IgM antibodies made?
Made at the start of the immune response by maturing B-lymphocytes
What are IgG and IgA associated with?
Myeloma
What makes IgG and IgA?
Mature plasma cells generate these immunoglobulins after isotype switching
