Light chains in immunoglobulins can be of which types?

Light chains in immunoglobulins consist of two types: kappa and lambda. These light chains are part of the immunoglobulin structure, which includes two heavy chains and two light chains. The presence of either kappa or lambda light chains contributes to the classification of antibodies. Approximately 60% of immunoglobulins have kappa light chains, while 40% have lambda light chains.

The distinction between kappa and lambda light chains is crucial in various immunological assays and can be significant in diagnosing certain conditions, particularly in hematological diseases like multiple myeloma, where laboratory tests can reveal an abnormal increase of one type of light chain over the other. Understanding the light chain types is fundamental for interpreting these clinical findings and their implications in disease states.