| Background | Recognizes a protein of 75kDa, identified as mu heavy chain of human immunoglobulins. It does not cross-react with alpha (IgA) , gamma (IgG) , epsilon (IgE) , or delta (IgD) , heavy chains, T-cells, monocytes, granulocytes, or erythrocytes. Monomeric IgM is expressed as a membrane-bound antibody on the surface of B cells and as a pentamer when secreted by plasma cells. IgM antibody is prominent in early immune responses to most antigens. Aberrant levels are associated with immune deficiency states, hereditary deficiencies, myeloma, Waldenstrom s macroglobulinemia, chronic infection, and hepatocellular disease. This MAb is useful in identifying leukemias, plasmacytomas, and certain non-Hodgkin s lymphomas. The most common feature of these malignancies is the restricted expression of a single heavy chain class. Demonstration of clonality in lymphoid infiltrates indicates that the infiltration is clonal and therefore malignant. |
Information sourced from Uniprot.org
