| IgM | <immunology> An immunoglobulin M molecule (970 kD) is built up from five immunoglobulin G type monomers joined together, with the assistance of J chains, to form a cyclic pentamer. Immunoglobulin M binds complement and a single molecule bound to a cell surface can lyse that cell. Immunoglobulin M is usually produced first in an immune response before immunoglobulin G. The human red cell isoantibodies are immunoglobulin M antibodies. Heavy chain (mu chain) is rather larger than the heavy chains of other immunoglobulins. (30 Mar 1998) |
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| IgM antibody capture ELISA | Developed to impart significant improvement in assay specificity to indirect ELISA procedures for IgM isotype antibodies. Solid-phase support (usually microtitre plate wells) are coated with anti-human IgM antibodies capable of binding all IgM isotype antibodies present in the specimen. Reagent antigen is then added, followed by enzyme-labelled antigen-specific antibodies. If IgM antibodies specific for the antigen in question are present, the "sandwich" complex will result in enzymatic colour-change proportional to the concentration of IgM-specific antibody present. This technique appears to be the method of choice in many highly specific and more sensitive assays for IgM infectious disease antibodies. Acronym: MAC ELISA (05 Mar 2000) |
| IgM nephropathy | <nephrology, pathology> Inflammation of the kidney glomerulus (blood filtering portion of the kidney) due to the abnormal deposition of IgM antibody in the mesangium layer of the glomerular capillary. A form of glomerulonephritis that appears to be caused by an abnormal immune response. This disorder generally manifests as nephrotic syndrome. Symptoms include swelling, dark urine, weight gain, hypertension, anorexia and bloody urine. Acronym: MPGN (05 Jan 1998) |
| immunodeficiency with elevated IgM | Immunodeficiency with reduced IgG and IgA-bearing cells; there is recurrent pyogenic infection; X-linked in some families. (05 Mar 2000) |
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