Demonstration of changes in plasma cell subsets in multiple myeloma

• Published in: Haematologica (Roma) Vol. 92; no. 8; pp. 1135 - 1138
• Main Authors: Ayliffe, Michael John, Davies, Faith Elizabeth, de Castro, David, Morgan, Gareth John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pavia Haematologica 01-08-2007; Ferrata Storti Foundation
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Amyloidosis - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Marrow - pathology; Cell Count; Disease Progression; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains - analysis; Immunoglobulin Light Chains - analysis; Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - pathology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - pathology; Myeloma Proteins - analysis; Paraproteinemias - pathology; Plasma Cells - chemistry; Plasma Cells - classification; Plasmacytoma - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - pathology; Immunopathology; multiple myeloma; Hematology; free light chains; Malignant hemopathy; Plasmocyte; Light peptide chain; Myeloma; plasma cells; Immunoglobulinopathy; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Bone marrow; monoclonal immunoglobulins; Monoclonal immunoglobulin
• ISSN: 0390-6078; 1592-8721
• DOI: 10.3324/haematol.11133

From the Department of Immunology, St. Helier Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey, UK (MJA); Section of Haemato-Oncology, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK (FED, DdC, GJM)
Correspondence: Michael J. Ayliffe, Department of Immunology, St Helier Hospital Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, SM3 8NR, UK. E-mail: michael.ayliffe{at}onetel.net
Increases in free light chain (FLC) production are associated with disease progression in multiple myeloma (MM). Using a double immunofluorescence staining method to produce a differential count of plasma cells in bone marrow, single populations were demonstrated, containing intact monoclonal immunoglobulins (M-Igs) in 74% and FLCs only in 8% of cases. However, 18% contained a mixture of both cell populations. Progression from cells making intact M-Ig to cells restricted to FLC only production occurred in individual cases during the course of their disease. The presence of FLC only cells was associated with shortened survival.
Key words: multiple myeloma, bone marrow, plasma cells, free light chains, monoclonal immunoglobulins.