Monoclonal gammopathies antigen driven in autoimmune diseases.

ABSTRACT

An important link exists between cancer, autoimmune diseases and immune deficiency. This presentation will review some data concerning clonal growth in B lymphocytes, with focus on the occurrence of autoantibody f2p4vity in the monoclonal proteins, which are the products of the clonally expanded lymphocyte plasma cell population. The role of antigen in causing or promoting monoclonal B cell growth is considered for several different forms of monoclonal gammopathies benign, malignant, and secondary. There is recent demonstration of M-proteins and clonal growth complicating HIV infections and some autoimmune conditions which illustrate well the link between cancer, autoimmunity and immune deficiency.