Immunochemical characterization of monoclonal protein in the serum of a patient with Waldenstr]om's macroglobulinemia showing both pyroglobulin and cryoglobulin properties

Abstract

A patient with Waldenstr]om's macroglobulinemia whose serum demonstrated properties of both pyroglobulin and cryoglobulin was studied. A monoclonal (M) protein in the serum of the patient was identified by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) as IgM-lambda. The M-protein was separated by gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cryoglobulin in the serum was isolated by the method of cold precipitation. The cryoglobulin was identified as IgM-lambda type by IEP and was the same M-protein as that which occurred in this patient's serum. The purified cryoglobulin also had the properties of a pyroglobulin. Neither property disappeared following pretreatment with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), urea, and Triton X-100 detergent, and deglycosylation with N-glycanase (E.C. 3.5.1.52). We suggest that these abnormal properties were caused by the molecular abnormality of the IgM-lambda M-protein.