Medicine & USMLE

Plasma B-Cells

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Immunology
  1. Innate Immunity
  2. Adaptive Immunity
  3. Macrophages
  4. Neutrophils
  5. Dendritic Cells
  6. Mast Cells
  7. Eosinophils
  8. Basophils
  9. Natural Killer Cells
  10. Antigens
  11. MHC I and II
  12. Antibodies
  13. B Lymphocytes Overview
  14. B Cell Stages
  15. B-Cell Activation
  16. Plasma B-Cells
  17. Memory B-Cells
  18. T-Lymphocytes Overview
  19. T-Cell Stages
  20. Types of Activated T-Cells

Summary

When B-cells are activated by antigen binding, they differentiate into either plasma or memory B-cells. Plasma B-cells are short-lived and reside in the bone marrow, where they produce large quantities of antibody proteins that mark pathogens for destruction.

Key Points

  • Plasma B cells
    • Short-lived
    • Secrete antibodies in vast amounts during an infection
      • Main effector of the humoral immune response.
      • Marks pathogen for phagocytosis by innate immune cells
      • Initiates complement system 
      • Attaches to mast cells to release inflammatory chemicals