PROFILE

Studies performed in Dr. Stubbs’ laboratory examine immune-mediated mechanisms of peripheral nerve disease associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a non-cancerous B cell proliferative disorder that is strikingly prevalent among the aging population.

Debilitating complications of peripheral neuropathy with resultant decreased quality of life have been reported in up to 50% of MGUS patients. Despite the frequency and clinical significance of MGUS neuropathy, a cause for the peripheral nerve dysfunction observed in a majority of these patients has not been determined.

Dr. Stubbs and colleagues are currently funded to determine the significance of anti-neural antibody isotypes in sera of MGUS patients with peripheral neuropathy. Their studies have identified novel pathogenic anti-neural polyclonal antibodies in sera from patients with IgG MGUS neuropathy. These antibodies were found to be distinct from the patients’ monoclonal IgG paraprotein, a novel finding that uniquely distinguishes IgG MGUS neuropathy from IgM MGUS neuropathy.

The clinical importance of these studies is that it may be possible to develop therapeutic strategies to detect and specifically remove pathogenic anti-neural antibodies from sera of MGUS patients at risk for antibody-mediated nerve injury.

For more information, click here.