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light chain
noun
: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains comprising antibodies compare heavy chain
Examples of light chain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The daratumumab antibody sticks to the problem immune cells that are churning out light chain.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023
This should eliminate the cells that were spewing out the problem light chain protein.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023
Strangely, the students found only heavy chain proteins in the blood even though antibodies were supposed to also have light chains.
—Christina Szalinski, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023
The team also measured the samples for neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of nerve degeneration that increases in people with MS.
—Kenneth Miller, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022
Two of the key markers — kappa/lambda light chain and of monoclonal protein in the bone marrow — are down from wildly high to within sight of normal.
—Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2021
Neurofilament light chain, for example, is a structural protein that maintains neurons' axons, which transmit signals to other neurons.
—ABC News, 7 Nov. 2021
The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative recently reported that measurements of plasma neurofilament-light chain (NfL) can predict the trajectory of decline.
—Sam Gandy, STAT, 17 June 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'light chain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1962, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near light chain
Cite this Entry
“Light chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20chain. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Medical Definition
light chain
noun
: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains that are subunits of antibodies
called also L chain
compare heavy chainMore from Merriam-Webster on light chain
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about light chain
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