Antibody-producing cells

Antibody-producing cells are immune cells that secrete antibodies recognizing particular antigens. Most are plasma cells, differentiated B lymphocytes that release large quantities of antibody.

Connect

B cell: A lymphocyte that recognizes specific antigens and can differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells or memory B cells. B cells are the precursors that become the antibody-secreting cells described here.
Antibody: An immunoglobulin protein that binds a specific antigen and can help neutralize or eliminate it. These are the molecules secreted by antibody-producing cells.
Vaccine: A preparation that induces protective immune responses against a particular infectious agent or disease. Vaccination generates B-cell responses that can produce antibody-secreting cells.
Memory B cell: A long-lived B lymphocyte that responds rapidly when it encounters an antigen previously recognized. Unlike plasma cells, memory B cells chiefly persist for future responses rather than continuously secreting antibody.
Plasma cell: A differentiated B cell specialized for producing and secreting large amounts of antibody. Plasma cells are the principal antibody-producing cells.
Immunoglobulin class switching: A B-cell process that changes an antibody's constant region while preserving its antigen-binding specificity. Class switching changes the functions of antibodies that plasma cells later secrete.
Monoclonal antibody: An antibody population derived from one cell lineage and designed to bind a single target or epitope. Monoclonal antibodies reproduce the target-specific binding made by individual B-cell lineages.
Naive B cell: A mature B lymphocyte that has not yet encountered its specific antigen. Naive B cells are not yet differentiated into the antibody-secreting cells featured here.
B-cell receptor: A membrane-bound immunoglobulin complex that enables a B cell to recognize a specific antigen. Antigen recognition through this receptor helps initiate B-cell activation and differentiation.
Somatic hypermutation: The introduction of mutations into immunoglobulin genes in activated B cells, enabling selection for stronger antigen binding. This process can improve the antigen affinity of antibodies made by descendant plasma cells.