Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
Published on: June 14, 2020
Cell membrane associated free kappa light chains are found on a subset of tonsil and in vitro-derived plasmablasts
Andrew T Hutchinson1, Darren R Jones2, Padraig McCauley Winter2
1School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; The iThree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
Abstract:
The monoclonal antibody, MDX-1097, is currently progressing through clinical trials as a possible therapy for multiple myeloma. MDX-1097 targets a cell membrane bound form of free immunoglobulin kappa light chain (FκLC), termed kappa myeloma antigen (KMA), which is found on the surface of malignant plasma cells. The clinical potential of MDX-1097 highlights the need to characterise the expression of its cognate antigen, KMA, in normal tissue. In this study, we have analysed the expression of KMA on B cell subsets found in tonsils, peripheral blood and bone marrow. We found KMA expression on a small population of tonsillar and in vitro derived plasmablasts. In contrast, no KMA expression was observed on peripheral blood or bone marrow resident B cell subsets. This study yields important insights into the possible subsets of B cells that might be depleted as a result of an immunotherapy targeting KMA.
More Related Videos
08:09Efficient Isolation Protocol for B and T Lymphocytes from Human Palatine Tonsils
Published on: November 16, 2015
11:10Antibody Binding Specificity for Kappa (Vκ) Light Chain-containing Human (IgM) Antibodies: Polysialic Acid (PSA) Attached to NCAM as a Case Study
Published on: June 29, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...