Impaired synthesis of polyclonal immunoglobulin by bone marrow cells in a patient with multiple myeloma
Okubo, H.; Inoue, T.; Kudo, J.; Okumura, Y.; Hayashida, K.
Nihon Ketsueki Gakkai Zasshi Journal of Japan Haematological Society 48(4): 1083-1089
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5806 PMID: 4060978 Document Number: 244675
The mechanism of a decreased polyclonal Ig level was explored in a patient with IgA multiple myeloma by measuring Ig synthesis in vitro using mononuclear cells in peripheral blood (PMC) and bone marrow aspirates (BMC). The amounts of Ig synthesis by PMC were slightly lower for IgG and IgM and markedly lower for IgA than those by normal PMC. The decrease in the synthesis of polyclonal IgA by the patient's PMC was related to an increase in IgA specific suppressor T cell activity. The patient's BMC synthesized a large amount of myeloma protein, but only 1/10 the amounts of IgG and IgM compared to the levels synthesized by normal PMC. The low level of polyclonal IgG and IgM was due to impaired synthesis by BMC.