Biochemical analysis reveals aberrant and variable Immunoglobulin M composition in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance.

ABSTRACT: Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare B cell malignancy defined by greater than 10% infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow (BM) and a circulating monoclonal Immunoglobulin M (IgM), while its precursor state IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) has <10% BM infiltration. WM and IgM MGUS are unique amongst malignant lymphomas because symptoms and treatment indication may be caused by monoclonal IgM and not by the malignant cell infiltration. These symptoms correlate poorly with IgM levels, suggesting there may be specific biochemical properties of those pathological IgMs, yet IgM structure in IgM gammopathies has not been systematically studied. In healthy individuals, IgM circulates as a pentameric molecule that consists of five covalently

SUBMITTER: Oskam N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631112 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature