Appendix stained with Anti-Lambda Light Chain
Lambda light chains are polypeptide chains located in the cell membrane and cytoplasmic regions of normal B cells and plasma cells. The combination of lambda light chains and heavy chains forms immunoglobulin molecules. There are two classes of light chains found in immunoglobulins, kappa light chains and lambda light chains. Light chain production by lymphoid cells is genetically restricted such that the immunoglobulin molecules produced by an individual cell will only contain a single light chain class. The normal human kappa/lambda ratio is approximately 2:1. The presence of clear cut light chain restriction with a kappa/lambda ratio more than 10:1 is consistent with a malignant proliferation. This antibody recognizes lambda light chains of human immunoglobulins, which may be useful in the identification of leukemias, plasmacytomas, and certain non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The most common feature of these malignancies is the restricted expression of a single light chain class.
Lambda light chains are polypeptide chains located in the cell membrane and cytoplasmic regions of normal B cells and plasma cells. The combination of lambda light chains and heavy chains forms immunoglobulin molecules. There are two classes of light chains found in immunoglobulins, kappa light chains and lambda light chains. Light chain production by lymphoid cells is genetically restricted such that the immunoglobulin molecules produced by an individual cell will only contain a single light chain class. The normal human kappa/lambda ratio is approximately 2:1. The presence of clear cut light chain restriction with a kappa/lambda ratio more than 10:1 is consistent with a malignant proliferation. This antibody recognizes lambda light chains of human immunoglobulins, which may be useful in the identification of leukemias, plasmacytomas, and certain non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The most common feature of these malignancies is the restricted expression of a single light chain class.
