RESUMEN
Because ß-2-microglobulin (ß2M) is a surface protein that is present on most nucleated cells, it plays a key role in the human immune system and the kidney glomeruli to regulate homeostasis. The primary clinical significance of ß2M is in dialysis-related amyloidosis, a complication of end-stage renal disease caused by a gradual accumulation of ß2M in the blood. Therefore, the function of ß2M in kidney-related diseases has been extensively studied to evaluate its glomerular and tubular functions. Because increased ß2M shedding due to rapid cell turnover may indicate other underlying medical conditions, the possibility to use ß2M as a versatile biomarker rose in prominence across multiple disciplines for various applications. Therefore, this work has reviewed the recent use of ß2M to detect various diseases and its progress as a biomarker. While the use of state-of-the-art ß2M detection requires sophisticated tools, high maintenance, and labor cost, this work also has reported the use of biosensor to quantify ß2M over the past decade. It is hoped that a portable and highly efficient ß2M biosensor device will soon be incorporated in point-of-care testing to provide safe, rapid, and reliable test results.