changes in protein profiles in bortezomib applied multiple myeloma ...

2005) and the incidence number is almost 3 thousand in Turkey (Lag et al, 2002;
Horner et al., 2009). In addition to all of this statistic data, American Cancer Society
reports that approximately 20 thousand new cases of MM is diagnosed during 2008
(NCI, 2011).
As mentioned before, MM is a type of cancer formed by malignant plasma cells.
Plasma cells mainly take part in the bone marrow which is the soft tissue found inside
some hollow bones. These cells are an important part of the immune system.
Even though immune system is composed of several types of cells that
endeavour together to fight infections and other diseases, lymphocytes (lymph cells) are
the main cell type of it. They can be found in many areas, such as lymph nodes, bone
marrow and bloodstream. There are two types of lymphocytes; T cells and B cells.
When B cells respond to an infection, they are activated by helper T cells (CD4
T Cells) in the presence of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 (cytokines) and CD40 Ligand. These
activated B cells mature and change into memory cells and plasma cells (Figure 1.3)
(Murphy et al., 2008). Plasma cells are responsible for the making antibodies
(immunoglobulins, a kind of protein) that help the body protect from germs and other
harmful substances by attacking and killing them (Figure 1.4) (NCI, 2011).
Figure 1.3. The Activation and Differentiation of B Cell
(Source: Murphy et al., 2008)
In MM, the body makes too many plasma cells (myeloma cells) (Bataille and
Harousseau, 1997). These cells lose their normal functions and produce much more
antibodies called M proteins that the body does not need. Myeloma cells at issue cause
the problems in the body in two ways: They crowd out the normal plasma cells so that
the antibodies to fight the infections are not made. Additionally, antibodies secreted by
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