Franklin Mullinax

Manifestations of Systemic Light Chain Deposition

In two patients with terminal renal failure, manifestations of disease developed in multiple organ systems. One had a previous diagnosis of multiple myeloma with kappa light chain proteinemia and proteinuria. The other had idiopathic lobular glomerulonephritis. Hepatic and neurologic abnormalities developed in both; in the latter gastrointestinal, cardiac and endocrine disease developed as well. Clinical and pathologic correlations suggest that the retention and tissue deposition of light chains produced the organ dysfunction, inasmuch as free kappa light chain determinants were demonstrated histologically in the clinically affected organs. The deposition in these patients may be an extreme example of a common but previously unrecognized form of plasma cell dyscrasia.

Connective-Tissue Disease and Rheumatoid Factors in Patients with Renal Transplants

AN impressive body of experimental evidence can be summarized by the statement that graft rejection is initiated by an immunologic process.1 Similarly, there is evidence that immunologic events may...

Pernicious anemia and monoclonal gammopathy in a patient with IgA deficiency

A patient with pernicious anemia was found to have undetectable IgA in serum, saliva and gastric juice, and a monoclonal IgG spike. This patient represents the unique association of an immunoglobulin deficiency, an autoimmune disease and a lymphoproliferative disorder. The M protein was isolated and tested for antibody activity with numerous antigens.

Monoclonal IgG Gammopathy and Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract Three patients with hypercalcemia had serum IgG monoclonal gammopathies. In none of the cases could a diagnosis of multiple myeloma be established, and other clinical findings were most co...

Anti-Insulin Receptor Antibodies and Diabetes

Excerpt In 1970 we reported the spontaneous remission of severe insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus in a patient with features of scleroderma (1). We now report the apparent cause of this patients...

Assay of galactosyltransferase by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Galactosyltransferase catalyzes transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to glucose or N-acetylglucosamine with resultant formation of galactosides and UDP. In this new assay galactosyltransferase activity is measured by determining UDP by isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography on an amino-bonded column monitored spectrophotometrically. Concurrently, unreacted UDP-galactose and breakdown products arising from UDP-galactose (UMP and uridine) are also determined. The new technique does not require radioactive substrates, permits usage of saturating concentrations of UDP-galactose, and provides monitoring of side reactions.

RNA metabolism and protein synthesis in plasma cell leukemia

Abstract A patient with plasma cell leukemia was found to have Bence Jones proteinemia and Bence Jones proteinuria. Peripheral blood plasma cell suspensions incorporated C 14 -uridine into RNA and C 14 -leucine into protein, including Bence Jones protein. Approximately 81 per cent of the newly-formed RNA was unstable, and was destroyed with a half-life of about 42 minutes. This RNA may represent messenger RNA or unstable nuclear RNA. Inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D was followed by a marked and progressive decline in the rate of protein synthesis. Secretion of Bence Jones protein lagged 2 hours behind protein synthesis. These data demonstrate production of an immunoglobulin by leukemic plasma cells, selective secretion of Bence Jones protein and instability of messenger RNAs, including specific Bence Jones messengers. The leukemic plasma cells, like normal plasma cells, require continuing gene action (RNA synthesis) to support growth and differentiation.

Chimerism in scleroderma

1presents evidence from PCR experiments that some women with scleroderma who have given birth to sons have male cells in their peripheral blood. Possibly these invaders cause scleroderma, and getting rid of them would cure patients with scleroderma. 2 Their hypothesis that autoimmune diseases are characterised by, indeed caused by, cell lines acquired during pregnancy—either mother-to-child or child-to-mother—is not original. Nor is the finding of male-cell determinants in the peripheral blood of patients with scleroderma by PCR. We have presented the hypothesis and PCR findings.

Immunoglobulins as glycoproteins—I determination of neutral sugars and hexosamines in bovine gamma globulin by hexosamines in bovine gamma globulin by gas-liquid chromatography☆

Abstract Techniques for analysis of immunoglobulin neutral sugars and hexosamines are described, including details of hydrolysis, acetylation, formation of trimethylsilyl derivatives, and their detection by gas-liquid chromatography. Data obtained with bovine gamma globulin are presented.