What is the primary function of plasma cells?

Plasma cells are specialized white blood cells that play a crucial role in the immune system. Their primary function is to produce antibody molecules, which are vital for identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. When B cells, a type of lymphocyte, encounter an antigen that they recognize, they can differentiate into plasma cells. These plasma cells then proliferate and synthesize large quantities of antibodies specific to the antigen, thereby facilitating the immune response.

The antibodies produced by plasma cells circulate throughout the body and bind to the corresponding antigens, marking them for destruction by other immune cells or neutralizing them directly. This process is fundamental to the body’s ability to remember and respond more effectively to pathogens upon subsequent exposures, forming the basis of immunological memory.

Through this function, plasma cells are essential for adaptive immunity, distinguishing them from other cell types that have different roles, such as red blood cells which are involved in oxygen transport, hormone-producing cells responsible for regulating physiological processes, and neurons that secrete neurotransmitters for signaling within the nervous system.