With abundant experience in the IVD (in vitro diagnostic) field, Creative Biolabs is able to provide a full range of biomarker-specific antibody development services to aid in the development of immunodiagnostic kits. Our professional scientific team is well-positioned to promote your project a success.
Overview of β2-microglobulin (B2M)
Human B2M was first identified in the urine of patients with the renal tubular disease. Its molecular weight is 12kD. Subsequently, it was found in all biological fluids. The 99-amino acid residue protein is a membrane protein produced by most nucleated cells and constitutes the invariable light chain of the class I HLA molecule. Its structure has close similarities to the constant region of the immunoglobulin molecule, in particular the C3H domain. On the lymphocyte surface, it is present both as part of the HLA antigen complex and as a free molecule. B2M is shed into the circulation possibly as a result of membrane turnover or of cell death.
Fig.1 The production and transport of B2M. (Takeo Nomura, 2014)
B2M Marker of Multiple Myeloma
Blood levels of B2M vary within a narrow range in normal subjects and rise as the glomerular filtration rate falls. High B2M concentrations have been reported in a broad range of inflammatory and malignant diseases. Disregarding the aging factor, B2M has been considered as a reliable tumor marker in lymphoproliferative diseases. Particularly, it is important as an aid in evaluating tumor mass and in predicting the response to chemotherapy and survival in multiple myeloma. In lymphomas, pretreatment serum B2 levels offer valuable information about the extent of the disease, prognosis and survival. In B chronic lymphocytic leukemia, serum B2M has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with the clinical stage. B2M is also reported to promote the growth and survival of stromal cells such as mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts supporting cancer bone metastasis. B2M directly acts on cancer cells to increase the growth, survival and aggressiveness through the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Secondly, B2M also has the direct action on bone cells to establish a prometastatic niche and enhance bone metastasis.
IVD antibodies are extensively used in immunodiagnostic kits for disease screening and therapeutic monitoring. With our advanced IVD platform, Creative Biolabs is proud to develop novel B2M-specific antibodies from scratch to commercial IVD kit (we can also start with provided antibody pairs).
Besides the B2M marker, Creative Biolabs also focus on other diagnostic markers of myeloma. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact us or directly send us an inquiry.
Reference
For Research Use Only.
