B lymphocyte markers in multiple myeloma and related plasma cell dyscrasias.

Multiple myeloma and benign monoclonal gammopathies are regarded as monoclonal B cell proliferations in which B lymphocyte maturation is blocked in the final stages of the differentiation cycle. "Blocked" cells accumulate in the body and produce large quantities of immunoglobulins. These are monoclonal, because they come from a monoclonal cell stock.

Immunoregulation and differentiation markers in monoclonal gammopathies.

Multiple myeloma and benign monoclonal gammopathies (BMG) are regarded as monoclonal B cell proliferations in which B lymphocyte maturation is blocked in the final stages of the differentiation cycle. Further studies with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) of the FMC series and of the 791T/36 MoAb will perhaps provide a final subclassification of the B lymphocyte proliferation diseases and hopefully assist in their diagnosis and treatment.

Immunological studies on the origin of the precursor cells in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Preliminary results obtained with OK anti-T and FMC anti-B monoclonal antibodies in a study of peripheral blood lymphocytes from eight patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and of bone marrow lymphocytes from three patients, are reported. Endocytoplasmic immunofluorescence revealed a 1 to 3% marrow plasma cell fraction in all three cases, together with an approximately 10% increase in the monoclonal precursor compartment. Displacement of the peripheral blood helper: suppressor ratio was also observed using anti-T-lymphocyte monoclonal antibodies.

Normalization of electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes in patients with primary immunoglobulin deficiency treated with intravenous immunoglobulins.

The behaviour of lymphocyte sub-populations and lymphocyte electrophoretic mobility has been studied in seven patients with agamma/hypogammaglobulinaemia before and after gammaglobulin therapy.