Background
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IgM is the first antibody generated in an immune response to an antigen. It is generally a pentamer with each of the five immunoglobulins linked together with disulfide bonds. In its pentamer form, it has a molecular mass of 970 kDa and 10 antigen s (due to the large size of most antigens, not all s can be filled simultaneously. IgM antibodies account for approximately 5?% -10?% of all the antibody in the body. This mAb is specific for the human IgM heavy chain. It does not cross-react with other immunoglobulin heavy chains, T-cells, monocytes, granulocytes, or erythrocytes. IgM antibody is useful in the identification of certain cancer types. Some tumors express a single heavy chain class. Demonstration of clonality in lymphoid infiltrates indicates that the infiltrate is clonal and therefore malignant.
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