immunology Immunology is a branch of biology and medicine that covers the study of Immune system, immune systems in all Organism, organisms. Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the Physiology, physiological functioning of the immune system in ...

, immunoproliferative disorders are disorders of the

immune system The immune system is a network of biological systems that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to bacteria, as well as Tumor immunology, cancer cells, Parasitic worm, parasitic ...

that are characterized by the abnormal proliferation of the primary cells of the immune system, which includes

B cell B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or inserted into the plasm ...

T cell T cells (also known as T lymphocytes) are an important part of the immune system and play a central role in the adaptive immune response. T cells can be distinguished from other lymphocytes by the presence of a T-cell receptor (TCR) on their cell ...

s and

natural killer Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the laws, elements and phenomena of the physical world, including life. Although humans are par ...

(NK) cells, or by the excessive production of

immunoglobulin An antibody (Ab) or immunoglobulin (Ig) is a large, Y-shaped protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily which is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize antigens such as pathogenic bacteria, bacteria and viruses, includin ...

s (also known as antibodies).

Classes

These disorders are subdivided into three main classes, which are

lymphoproliferative disorders Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) refer to a specific class of diagnoses, comprising a group of several conditions, in which lymphocytes are produced in excessive quantities. These disorders primarily present in patients who have a compromised ...

, hypergammaglobulinemia, and

paraproteinemia Monoclonal gammopathy, also known as paraproteinemia, is the presence of excessive amounts of myeloma protein or monoclonal gamma globulin in the blood. It is usually due to an underlying immunoproliferative disorder or hematologic neoplasms, espe ...

.Health Communication Network. Immunoproliferative disorders - Topic Tree. http://www.use.hcn.com.au/subject.%60Immunoproliferative%20Disorders%60/home.html. Accessed March 2007. The first is cellular, and the other two are humoral (however, humoral excess can be secondary to cellular excess.) * ''Lymphoproliferative disorders'' (LPDs) refer to several conditions in which lymphocytes are produced in excessive quantities. They typically occur in patients who have compromised immune systems. This subset is sometimes incorrectly equated with "immunoproliferative disorders". * Humoral ** ''Hypergammaglobulinemia'' is characterized by increased levels of

s in the blood serum. Five different hypergammaglobulinemias are caused by an excess of

immunoglobulin M Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the largest of several isotypes of antibodies (also known as immunoglobulin) that are produced by vertebrates. IgM is the first antibody to appear in the response to initial exposure to an antigen; causing it to also ...

(IgM), and some types are caused by a deficiency in the other major types of immunoglobulins. ** ''Paraproteinemia'' or ''monoclonal gammopathy'' is the presence of excessive amounts of a single monoclonal gammaglobulin (called a ''paraprotein'') in the blood.

References

External links

{{Lymphoid malignancy Immune system disorders

Classes

See also

References

External links