Free light chains: Eclectic multipurpose biomarker

Polyclonal immunoglobulin free light chains as a potential biomarker of immune stimulation and inflammation.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an established biomarker of acute and chronic inflammation. The hepatic synthesis of CRP is closely regulated by inflammatory cytokines, in particular interleukin-6. The CRP concentration increases rapidly in response to an inflammatory event, peaks within 48 hours, and often increases 100-fold. Bacterial infections and large burns are associated with the largest inc...

Polyclonal free light chains: a biomarker of inflammatory disease or treatment target?

Free light chains are proteins produced by B lymphocytes during the process of antibody synthesis. Their production, as a reflection of B cell activation, can give insight into the activity of the adaptive immune system. In recent years, an automated immunoassay that provides quantitative measurement of free light chains in the serum has been developed. This assay has not only revolutionised th...

Measurement of free light chains in urine.

Quantitation of serum free light chains.

under usual artificial light conditions, and storage of unproc-essed whole blood without antico-agulants at room temperature on the bench. Additionally, we tested the effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles. 25(OH)–vitamin D 3 measurements were performed on a Cobas E601 an-alyzer (Roche), using the vitamin D 3 (25-OH) assay as recommended by the manufacturer. Samples from each storage experiment ...

Free light chains: potential biomarker and predictor of mortality in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and usual COPD

BACKGROUND Circulating free light chains (FLCs) can alter neutrophil migration, apoptosis and activation and may be a biomarker of autoimmune disease and adaptive immune system activation. These pathogenic roles could be relevant to lung disease in alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS Total combined (c)FLCs were measured using the Fr...