What Are Bence Jones Proteins?
Immunoglobulin molecules normally consist of pairs of polypeptide chains of unequal size bound together by several disulphide bridges. In each immunoglobulin molecule there are a pair of heavy chains which may be either gamma alpha, mu, delta or epsilon type, and a pair of light chains which may be either kappa or lambda. In some pathological conditions such as Multiple Myeloma, there is a proliferation of one antibody-producing plasm cell leading to excess production of light chains of one specific kind. These free monoclonal light chains can be found in urine and plasma and were first isolated in 1847 by Henry Bence-Jones. Consequently, they are known as Bence-Jones Proteins (BJP).
