| Theme |
Uremic Toxins |
| Title |
Beta2-microglobulin |
| Author |
Noriyuki Homma |
Niigata Prefectural Sakamachi Hospital, Internal Medicine |
| Author |
Fumitake Gejyo |
Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Fukui Medical School |
| [ Summary ] |
Beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) is a single polypeptide chain of 99 aminoacids which forms a globular shape by a unique intrachain disulphide bridge. It has a molecular weight of 11,800 daltons. Beta2-MG accumulates in the body in parallel with decreasing renal function and forms dialysis-related amyloid fibrils. There is at present some uncertainty as to whether beta2-MG-derived amyloid fibrils are constituted of intact native beta2-MG molecules or modified beta2-MG molecules. As one of these modified beta2-MG molecules, beta2-MG modified by the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE beta2-MG) exhibit considerable biological activity in term of bone resorption and matrix destruction. AGE beta2-MG may play a major role in the formation of various clinical aspects of dialysis-related amyloidosis. |