[Immunological importance of a new protein: the beta2-microglobulin (author's transl)].

The Authors are presenting a concise review on a protein, beta2-microglobulin, that has gained in notable importance in the immunological field during these last years. The story of this protein begins with nephrology because it has a notable importance in the diagnosis of renal tubular diseases; in fact its presence in the electrophoretic pattern of proteinuria puts in evidence renal tubular damage. Nextly immunological studies have shown the beta2-microglobulin has strict correlations with the HL-A system; probably it forms a part of this system, as shown by the new immunofluorescent methods applied to the lymphocte. A recent study has shown also the beta2-microglobulin serum levels are very high in some malignant diseases, like in acute leukemia; however this low molecular weight protein could also be the expression of malignancy because it can be a product of non mature cells in a large quantity.