What causes the M spike in multiple myeloma?

immunoglobulin protein (M-spike) will appear as a large peak on the graph. that is being produced by the malignant plasma cells. The amount of protein produced may vary throughout the course of the disease, but the type generally will remain the same. serum protein electrophoresis.

Does multiple myeloma compromise your immune system?

Because myeloma is a disease of an immune system cell (the plasma cell), its growth affects the whole immune system. Myeloma suppresses the immune response as a whole, reducing the number of normal antibodies and affecting all the cells that would patrol for and attack abnormal cells.

Are you immunocompromised If you have MGUS?

And so, the BOTTOM LINE is good news. MGUS does not have that immune compromise that we see in the later stages of smoldering myeloma and active myeloma.

What do M proteins do?

The M protein coats group A streptococci (GAS) and acts as the primary antigen and determinant of type-specific immunity. M is essential for GAS virulence, providing antiphagocytic functions critical to survival in human tissues and fluids.

How does multiple myeloma affect immunoglobulins?

The majority of multiple myeloma (MM) patients have high levels of monoclonal immunoglobulin in the serum and/or urine and suppressed levels of the uninvolved immunoglobulins.

Is MGUS an immune disorder?

Background. Multiple myeloma (MM) and its precursor, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), have been linked with several autoimmune conditions in the medical literature. Yet, significance of these associations is not well understood.

What does high M protein mean?

Finding M proteins in the blood or urine is usually a sign of disease. Their presence is associated most commonly with a type of cancer of the plasma cells called multiple myeloma.