Serum and tissue light-chains as disease biomarkers and targets for treatment in AL amyloidosis

Abstract

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis and is a multi-organ disease affecting mostly the heart and kidneys. AL amyloidosis is a protein misfolding disorder characterized by the tissue deposition of monoclonal light chains (LCs) produced by neoplastic plasma cells. Measurement of circulating free LC (FLC) is an important tool for diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of AL amyloidosis and can be performed through antibody-based methods or mass spectrometry. Furthermore, correct identification of LC deposits in tissues is essential to diagnose AL amyloidosis. Together with antibody-based techniques, methods relying on mass spectroscopy are now available.

Keywords

Free light chains / AL amyloidosis / plasma cell disorder / heart failure / amyloid fibrils / immunoglobulin

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