Immunologic and Genetic Characteristics of Monoclonal Immunoglobulins in Patient With Tuberculosis
Immunologic and Genetic Characteristics of Monoclonal Immunoglobulins in Patient With Tuberculosis
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the monoclonal protein in patients with
 tuberculosis and monoclonal gammopathy has anti-tuberculous activity, and whether genes
 coding their monoclonal proteins show characteristic mutations.
Monoclonal immunoglobulins arise from abnormal proliferation of a single clone of plasma
 cells. They are composed of a single light and/or heavy chain class, in contrast to
 polyclonal immunoglobulins. They may occur in malignant lymphoproliferative diseases, such as
 multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia,
 amyloidosis, or more benign conditions such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined
 significance (MGUS). Recently we have observed monoclonal gammopathy occurring in patients
 with tuberculosis. Whether tuberculous infection plays a role in the production of monoclonal
 protein, and whether the monoclonal immunoglobulins possess anti-tuberculous activity are
 unknown. In the current project we plan to study: (1) whether the monoclonal immunoglobulin
 developed in patients with tuberculosis reacts with tuberculous antigen (using ELISA), and
 (2) whether the VH gene sequence analysis of such patient shows different mutation patterns
 (indicating the presence of intraclonal mutation variation) or not. If there is no
 intraclonal mutation variation, it suggests that the plasma cell clone is not under current
 exposure to the mutator, and the production of monoclonal gammopathy is probably not related
 to tuberculous infection. If, however, the VH gene sequence analysis shows the presence of
 intraclonal mutation variation, it indicates that the plasma cell clone is continuously under
 the influence of the mutator. In such case the production of monoclonal protein may be
 related to tuberculous infection.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Monoclonal Gammopathy with Tuberculosis

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  No