Bence-Jones protein immunology

Appella, E., McIntyre, K.R., Perham, R.N. (1967). Lambda Bence Jones proteins of the mouse chemical and immunological characterization. J. Mol. Biol. 27, 391-394. 

In addition to their unique individual specificity, Bence Jones proteins from different individuals were shown by immunological methods to fall into two classes (Korngold and Lipari, 1956), now termed k and A all five classes of immunoglobulins may contain either k or k light chains. Within k light chains, certain positions, 152 (Kern) and 190 (Inv), respectively, may have two amino acids, the genes for which are Mendelian alleles (Fig. 4). 

The sensitivity and specificity of the quantitative precipitin method make it applicable to the identification and estimation of abnormal plasma proteins in certain diseases, particularly when present in concentrations too low to be detected by other methods. Goettsch and her associates (103, 104) and Kendall (181) employed immunochemical techniques in the study of nephrotic sera Kendall (181) also investigated the distribution of his immunologically distinct globulin subfractions in hyperglobulinemia due to lymphogranuloma venereum, cirrhosis of the liver, and rheumatoid arthritis Kabat (261) was able to demonstrate the presence of as little as 0.15 gram per cent Bence-Jones protein in the serum of a patient with multiple myeloma. Many other applications of immunochemical techniques are noted by Kabat (167) and Treffers (358) in recent reviews. 

Immunological study of the Bence-Jones proteins early indicated that they f[Pg.202]

---