Plasmacyte

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Plasmacyte is a type of B cell that produces antibodies in the immune system. They are also known as effector B cells or plasma cells. Plasmacytes are derived from B cells that have been activated by the binding of an antigen to the B cell receptor.

Function[edit | edit source]

Plasmacytes are responsible for the production of antibodies, which are proteins that can bind to specific antigens and neutralize them. This is a crucial part of the immune response to infections.

Development[edit | edit source]

Plasmacytes develop from B cells in a process called B cell differentiation. This process is triggered when a B cell encounters an antigen that matches its B cell receptor. The B cell then undergoes a series of changes, including proliferation and the production of plasma cells, which are the cells that actually produce the antibodies.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Abnormalities in plasmacyte function or number can lead to a variety of diseases. For example, multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that involves the uncontrolled proliferation of plasmacytes. In addition, some autoimmune diseases are thought to involve the production of autoantibodies by plasmacytes.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Plasmacyte Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD