MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES ANTIGEN-DRIVEN IN AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES

An important link exists between cancer, autoimmune diseases and immun e deficiency. This presentation will review some data concerning clona l growth in B lymphocytes, with focus on the occurrence of autoantibod y activity in the monoclonal proteins, which are the products of the c lonally expanded lymphocyte-plasma cell population. The role of antige n in causing or promoting monoclonal B cell growth is considered for s everal different forms of monoclonal gammopathies benign, malignant, a nd secondary. There is recent demonstration of M-proteins and clonal g rowth complicating HIV infections and some autoimmune conditions which illustrate well the link between cancer autoimmunity and immune defic iency.