BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN AND BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN-BINDING PROTEINS IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 5  (4) , 398-405
Abstract
.beta.2 Microglobulin (.beta.2m) is a 11,800 dalton polypeptide non-covalently associated with the H chain of class I histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A, B and C) at the surface of nearly all cells. Serum .beta.2m levels are passively controlled by the glomerular filtration rate. Increased .beta.2m production resulting in elevated serum levels despite normal renal function have been reported in malignancies of the lymphoreticular system (e.g., multiple myeloma) and in various autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. In some situations .beta.2m levels were positively correlated with absolute lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood or with the score of mononuclear cell infiltrates in biopsy specimens. Together with the demonstration that activated T lymphocytes release .beta.2m in culture, the data support the hypothesis that increased production of .beta.2m in vivo could represent a nonspecific indication of lymphocyte activation. Follow-up studies of individual patients are needed to define the clinical situations in which .beta.2m determination may improve the immunological monitoring, with special reference to the early diagnosis of relapses and the the assessment of individual response to treatment.

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