Hematology

Abstract

I T IS NOW generally accepted that at least four classes of related proteins comprise the gamma globulin group-that is, the 6.6 S y-globulins, $2A globulins, y1-macroglobulins and Bence Jones proteins. Many studies indicate that gamma globulin formation occurs in plasma cells and lymphoid cells18 but the features of the cells in which each of these distinctive classes of globulins are formed are not clear. Morphologic differences in the cells forming these gamma globulins have been inferred from observations of the predominant cell form seen in malignant disease. For example, y1-macroglobulinemia is frequently associated with proliferation of lymphoid cells or lymphoid-plasma cells.9-11 A variety of plasma cell forms, including those with small, medium or large nuclei, with scanty to abundant cytoplasm, and with other varying morphologic features, have been described in multiple myeloma.12 Some investigators have found that the electrophoretic mobility of myeloma proteins relates to plasma cell morphology and that large cells with abundant cytoplasm are more frequently associated with myeloma proteins of gamma than of beta globulin mobil-