Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a plasma cell dyscrasia in which plasma cells or other types of antibody-producing cells secrete a myeloma protein, i.e. an abnormal antibody, into the blood; this abnormal protein is usually found during standard laboratory blood or urine tests. MGUS resembles multiple myeloma and similar diseases, but the levels of antibodies are lower, the number of plasma cells (white blood cells that secrete antibodies) in the bone marrow is lower, and it rarely has symptoms or major problems. However, since MGUS can lead to multiple myeloma, which develops at the rate of about 1.5% a year, or other symptomatic conditions, yearly monitoring is recommended. The progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma usually involves several steps. In rare cases, it may also be related with a slowly progressive symmetric distal sensorimotor neuropathy. People with monoclonal gammopathy generally do not experience signs or symptoms. Some people may experience a rash or nerve problems, such as numbness or tingling. MGUS is usually detected by chance when the patient has a blood test for another condition or as part of standard screening. Pathologically, the lesion in MGUS is in fact very similar to that in multiple myeloma. There is a predominance of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow with an abnormal immunophenotype (CD38+ CD56+ CD19−) mixed in with cells of a normal phenotype (CD38+ CD56− CD19+); in MGUS, on average more than 3% of the clonal plasma cells have the normal phenotype, whereas in multiple myeloma, less than 3% of the cells have the normal phenotype. MGUS is a common, age-related medical condition characterized by an accumulation of bone marrow plasma cells derived from a single abnormal clone. Patients may be diagnosed with MGUS if they fulfill the following four criteria: A monoclonal paraprotein band less than 30 g/L (< 3g/dL); Plasma cells less than 10% on bone marrow examination; No evidence of bone lesions, anemia, hypercalcemia, or chronic kidney disease related to the paraprotein, and No evidence of another B-cell proliferative disorder.

Site-selective template-directed synthesis of antibody Fc conjugates with concomitant ligand release

Natalia Gasilova, Jean-Manuel Segura, David Viertl

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Cambridge2023

Classification of patients with cardiac amyloidosis using machine learning models on Italian electronic clinical health records

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New York2023

A high-throughput cell- and virus-free assay shows reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants by COVID-19 convalescent plasma

Didier Trono, Priscilla Turelli, Florence Pojer, Charlène Mireille Raymonde Raclot, Valeria Cagno, Jérémy Campos, Céline Pellaton

The detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibodies in the serum of an individual indicates previous infection or vaccination. However, it provides limited insight into the protective nature of this immune resp ...

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE2021