Interestingly, our findings indicate that the MICA-129Met/Val dimorphism is associated with: (i) differential expression of both soluble and cell-surface MICA, (ii) expression levels of NKG2D on ex vivo NK cells isolated from the BM and peripheral blood (PBL) of MM patients, and (iii) the disease state. The gene discussed is MICA; the disease is Miyoshi myopathy.