| gammopathy | A primary disturbance in immunoglobulin synthesis. Biclonal gammopathy, a gammopathy in which the serum contains two distinct monoclonal immunoglobulins. Monoclonal gammopathy, any one of a group of disorders due to proliferation of a single clone of lymphoid or plasma cells (visible on electrophoresis as a single peak) and characterised by the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin in serum or urine. Polyclonal gammopathy, a gammopathy in which there is a heterogeneous increase in immunoglobulins involving more than one cell line; may be caused by any of a variety of inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic disorders. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| antibodies, monoclonal | Antibodies produced by clones of cells such as those isolated after hybridization of activated b lymphocytes with neoplastic cells. These hybrids are often referred to as hybridomas. (12 Dec 1998) |
| monoclonal | 1. <cell biology> Used of a cell line whether within the body or in culture to indicate that it has a single clonal origin. 2. <immunology> Monoclonal antibodies are produced by a single clone of hybridoma cells and are therefore a single species of antibody molecule. (18 Nov 1997) |
| monoclonal antibodies | Identical antibodies that are made in large amounts in the laboratory. Doctors are studying ways of using monoclonal antibodies to treat leukaemia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| monoclonal antibody | <immunology, molecular biology> A substance, usually a protein, which can be synthsised in the laboratory in pure form by a single clone (population) of cells. These antibodies can be made in large quantities and have a specific affinity for certain target molecules called antigens which can be found on the surface of cells and those that are malignant. Monoclonal antibodies are currently being investigated as a possible form of cancer treatment although their benefit has not be fully proven. (16 Dec 1997) |
| monoclonal gammopathies, benign | Conditions characterised by the presence of a monoclonal serum (or urine) protein without clinical manifestations of plasma cell dyscrasia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| monoclonal immunoglobulin | A homogenous immunoglobulin resulting from the proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells and which, during electrophoresis of serum, appears as a narrow band or "spike"; it is characterised by heavy chains of a single class and subclass, and light chains of a single type. Synonym: M protein, monoclonal protein, paraprotein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| monoclonal peak | A narrow band visible on electrophoresis or an abnormal arc seen on immunoelectrophoresis, thought to represent immunoglobulin of one cell clone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| monoclonal protein | A homogenous immunoglobulin resulting from the proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells and which, during electrophoresis of serum, appears as a narrow band or "spike"; it is characterised by heavy chains of a single class and subclass, and light chains of a single type. Synonym: M protein, monoclonal protein, paraprotein. (05 Mar 2000) |