In blood cancers such asmyeloma, the ‘M’ in ‘M protein’ stands for monoclonal.
In the image, the Y-shaped blue antibody, or immunoglobulin, is the M protein.
The big round object behind it is a plasma cell, which makes the antibodies.
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Not all M proteins are whole antibodies like the one shown.
Sometimes, the myeloma’s M protein is only one piece of an antibody.
It can also cause problems in the body, especially if levels get too high.
Ordinarily, plasma cells will produce a wide range of antibodies.
All of the minions are clones of the same cell, and they make only the same monoclonal proteins.
Structure of Monoclonal Antibodies
Each antibody is made up of four parts.
There are two long chains on the inside, and two shorter chains on the outside.
In this case, it is just a small piece of the huge antibody.
This is the case in multiple myeloma, solitary plasmacytoma, and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
This is the case in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance MGUS.
you might have it with Hepatitis C virus infection and HIV/AIDS.
you’re free to even have it with acquiredvon Willebrand disease, a rare bleeding disorder.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Diagnosis.
International Myeloma Foundation.Tests to assess monoclonal protein.
University of Rochester.Bence-Jones protein.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia facts.
2016;6(3):e410.
