BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An assay using Laurell rocket immunoelectrophoresis has been developed for quantitation of beta-2-microglobulin (β2m) and serial levels of β2m have been measured in sera obtained daily from 52 patients following renal transplantation. The RIEP assay was performed using 1% low-endosmosis agarose gels containing 4% polyethylene glycol 6000 and the IgG fraction of rabbit antihuman β2m. Elevated β2m levels pretransplant fell markedly in the first 48 hr posttransplant in all patients with primary functioning grafts. Base-line control values for serum β2m were obtained in patients when stable graft function was established. Serum β2m levels increased during renal graft rejection, and significant elevations of serum β2m were detected at the onset of all graft rejection episodes as compared with control values. It is suggested that serum β2m quantitation by rocket immunoelectrophoresis is a simple and valuable assay to assess posttransplant renal graft function.