Glossary
The state-of-the-art glossary for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
𝛃2 microglobulin
𝛃2 microglobulin in the glossary for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia
Beta-2-microglobulin is a small membrane protein associated with the heavy chains of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and is, therefore, on the surface of all nucleated cells (excludes red blood cells).
Serum beta-2-M levels are elevated in diseases associated with an increased cell turnover. Levels are also elevated in several benign conditions such as chronic inflammation, liver disease, renal dysfunction, some acute viral infections, and a number of malignancies, especially hematologic malignancies associated with the B-lymphocyte lineage.
Glossary overview