Summary
The number and mode of distribution of immunoglobulin containing cells in human bone marrow were investigated immunohistochemically using paraffin sections of bone marrow aspirates. In individuals without specific diseases, the number of immunoglobulin containing cells per unit field in bone marrow increased with advancing age until the 3rd decade and leveled off thereafter. The magnitude of the increase was great for Ig-G and Ig-A, but very slight for Ig-M. Such age-related change in the number of Ig-G and Ig-M containing cells in bone marrow was almost comparable to the age-related change of serum level of Ig-G and Ig-M. However, the magnitude of age-related increase of Ig-A containing cells in bone marrow was apparently higher than that of the serum level of Ig-A. Cluster formation of immunoglobulin containing cells increased with age in terms of both incidence and size. Three points were suggested for differentiation of benign monoclonal gammopathy (BMG) from multiple myeloma (MM). First, the ratio of serum level of M-component divided by the average number of immunoglobulin containing cells per unit field was higher in BMG than in MM; second, the number of cells per cluster of immunoglobulin containing cells was more than 50 in MM, but that in BMG less than 20; third, the small immunoglobulin containing cells with narrow cytoplasm were more prominent in MM than in BMG.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelsson U, Bachman R, Hallen J (1966) Frequency of pathological proteins (M-components) in 6996 sera from an adult population. Acta Med Scand 179:238–247
Benner R, Haaijman JJ (1980) Aging of the lymphoid system at the organ level. With special reference to the bone marrow as site of antibody production. Dev Com Immunol 4:591–603
Benner R, Hijmans W, Haaijman JJ (1981) The bone marrow: the major source of immunoglobulins, but still a neglected site of antibody formation. Clin Exp Immunol 46:1–8
Broder S, Humphrey R, Durm M, Blackman M, Meade B, Goldman C, Strober W, Waldman T (1975) Impaired synthesis of polyclonal (non-paraprotein) immunoglobulins by circulating lymphocytes from patients with multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med 293:887–892
Buckley CE, Dorsey FC (1970) The effect of aging on human serum immunoglobulin concentrations. J Immunol 105:964–972
Durie BGM, Salmon SE, Moon TE (1980) Pretreatment of tumor mass, cell kinetics and prognosis in multiple myeloma. Blood 55:364–372
Erslev AJ (1967) Medullary and extramedullary blood formation. Clin Orthop Rel Res 52:25–36
Finger H, Emmerling P, Hof H (1973) Serumimmunoglobulin-Spiegel im Senium. Dtsch Med Wschr 98:2455–2456
Haaijman JJ, Hijmans W (1978) The influence of age on the immunological activity and capacity of the CBA mouse. Mech Age Dev 7:375–398
Hickman S, Avioli LV (1982) Benign monoclonal gammopathy. Arch Intern Med 142:349–351
Hijmans W, Schuit HRE, Huelsing-Hesselink EH (1971) An immunofluorescence study on intracellular immunoglobulins in human bone marrow cells. Ann NY Acad Sci 177:290–305
Kalff MW (1970) A population study on serum immunoglobulin levels. Clin Chim Acta 28:277–289
Kishimoto S, Tomino S, Inomata K, Kotegawa S, Saito T, Kuroki M, Mitsuya H, Hisamatsu S (1978) Age-related changes in the subsets and functions of human T lymphocytes. J Immunol 121:1773–1780
Lindstrom FD, Hardy WR, Eberle BJ, Williams RC (1973) Multiple myeloma and benign monoclonal gammopathy: Differentiation by immunofluorescence of lymphocytes. Ann Intern Med 78:837–844
Makinodan T, Kay MMB (1980) Age influence on the immune system. Adv Immunol 29:287–330
McMillan R, Longmire RL, Yelenosky R, Lang JE, Heath V, Craddock CG (1972) Immunoglobulin synthesis by human lymphoid tissues: Normal bone marrow as a major site of IgG production. J Immunol 109:1387–1394
Radl J (1979) Idiopathic paraproteinemia. A consequence of an age-related dificiency in the T immune system. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 14:251–255
Radl J (1981) Animal model of human disease, benign monoclonal gammopathy. Am J Pathol 105:91–93
Radl J, Sepers JM, Skvaril F, Morell A, Hijmans W (1975) Immunoglobulin patterns in human over 95 years of age. Clin Exp Immunol 22:84–90
Turesson I (1975) Nucleolar size in benign and malignant plasma cell proliferation. Acta Med Scand 197:7–14
Van Camp B, Reynaert P, Broodtaerts L (1981) Studies on the origin of the precursor cells in multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and benign monoclonal gammopathy. Clin Exp Immunol 44:82–89
Waldman TA, Strober W (1969) Metabolism of immunoglobulins. Prog Allergy 13:1–110
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suzuki, K., Hirokawa, K. & Hatakeyama, S. Age-related change of distribution of immunoglobulin containing cells in human bone marrow. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 404, 243–251 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694890
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694890