What is the Difference Between Kappa and Lambda Light Chains

The key difference between kappa and lambda light chains is that the gene encoding the kappa chain is located on chromosome 2, while the gene encoding the lambda chain is located on chromosome 22.

Immunoglobulins are composed of light chains and heavy chains. There are two types of light chains in humans. They are kappa and lambda light chains. They are located on different chromosomes at different loci. During myeloma conditions, immunoglobulins grow rapidly and produce more light chains than heavy chains. Free light chain assay measures the rise in light chains. Physicians determine the type of myeloma by the sub-type of light chains: kappa light chain and lambda light chain. If the kappa light chain is in high numbers, the patient has kappa myeloma. If the lambda light chain is in higher numbers, the patient has lambda myeloma.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Kappa Light Chains
3. What are Lambda Light Chains
4. Similarities – Kappa and Lambda Light Chains
5. Kappa vs Lambda Light Chains in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Kappa and Lambda Light Chains

What are Kappa Light Chains?

Kappa light chain is a sub-type of light chain and is a part of an antibody that originates from the bone marrow. In a healthy individual, plasma cells secrete antibodies or immunoglobulins to fight against infections. These normal immunoglobulins are polyclonal proteins that help to fight against foreign pathogens effectively. During myeloma, these antibodies grow abnormally to produce high amounts of light chains than heavy chains, leading to the development of monoclonal antibodies. Physicians conduct free light chain assay tests to detect the rise in light chains. If the kappa light chains are high in number, they deduce the myeloma type as kappa myeloma.

Kappa light chains consist of different types. They are IgG kappa, IgA kappa, IgD kappa, IgE kappa, and Igm kappa. Kappa gene segments encode on chromosome 2, comprising 52 V genes and 5 J genes. The free light chain assay detects the values of kappa free light chains present in the blood. The normal range of these kappa-free light chains in the blood is 3.3 to 19.4 milligrams per litre (mg/L). If the test results are out of range, the individual may have a plasma cell disorder that develops into kappa myeloma. In addition, a high-rise of these light chains in the blood can be due to kidney disease, chronic inflammation, or an immune system disorder.

What are Lambda Light Chains?

Lambda light chain is a sub-type of light chain that is a part of an antibody that originates from the bone marrow. During myeloma, these antibodies grow abnormally to produce a high amount of light chains than heavy chains, leading to the development of monoclonal antibodies.

Lambda light chains consist of different types. They are IgG lambda, IgA lambda, IgD lambda, IgE lambda and Igm lambda. Lambda gene segments encode on chromosome 22, comprising 30 V genes and 7 J genes. Free light chain assay detects the amount of light chains raised than normal levels and distinguishes between the sub-type of light chains (kappa and lambda). If the lambda light chains are in higher number, physicians deduce the myeloma type as lambda myeloma. The normal range of these lambda free light chains in the blood is 5.71 to 26.3 milligrams per litre (mg/L).

What are the Similarities Between Kappa and Lambda Light Chains?

• Kappa and lambda light chains are types of immunoglobulins.
• Both kappa and lambda are sub-types of light chains.
• When they are present in high numbers, they give rise to myeloma.
• Free light chain assay detects the range of kappa and lambda light chains in blood.

What is the Difference Between Kappa and Lambda Light Chains?

The gene encoding the kappa chain is located on chromosome 2, while the gene encoding the lambda chain is located on chromosome 22. Thus, this is the key difference between kappa and lambda light chains. The increase in kappa light chains indicates kappa myeloma, while the increase in lambda light chains indicates lambda myeloma. Moreover, kappa chains have the same canonical structure, while lambda side chains have a plethora of canonical structures.

The below infographic presents the differences between kappa and lambda light chains in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Kappa vs Lambda Light Chains

Immunoglobulins are composed of light and heavy chains. The two main types of light chains in humans are kappa and lambda. The gene encoding the kappa chain is located on chromosome 2, while the gene encoding the lambda chain is located on chromosome 22. So, this is the key difference between kappa and lambda light chains. Multiple myeloma is a type of white blood cell cancer related to plasma cells. Physicians conclude the type of myeloma by the sub-type of light chains, kappa light chain, and lambda light chain. Thus they could be developed either to kappa myeloma or lambda myeloma.

Reference:

1. K;, Fujiwara N;Kobayashi. “Macrophages in Inflammation.” Current Drug Targets. Inflammation and Allergy, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Types of Myeloma.” International Myeloma Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “2220 Four Chain Structure of a Generic Antibody-IgG2 Structures” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Protein L 1MHH” By E A S – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia