Role of beta(2)-microglobulin in the immune response in renal osteodystrophy.
Renal osteodystrophy is the major cause of skeletal morbidity in dialysis patients. It is characterized by beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M) amyloid deposition at the osteoarticular sites and a destructive arthropathy. beta(2)M is present on the surface of all nucleated cells as the small extracellular subunit of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule and actively participates in the immune response. Accumulating evidence suggests that beta(2)M plays a key role in the development of renal osteodystrophy through a T cell-mediated inflammatory immune mechanism.
Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. eva.balint@umassmed.edu
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D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D012080:Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D016207:Cytokines; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin