What are Plasma Cells?
Plasma cells are specialized white blood cells that play a crucial role in our immune system. They are derived from activated B cells and are antibody factories, producing large quantities of a specific antibody. This antibody targets a particular antigen, helping the body fight off infection or disease.
- Antibody Production: Plasma cells are the primary antibody-producing cells in the body. A single plasma cell can produce thousands of antibodies per second. [Reference: Cleveland Clinic - B Cells: Types and Function]
- Origin: They develop from activated B cells, a type of white blood cell. [Reference: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - Definition of plasma cell]
- Role in Immunity: Plasma cells are essential for humoral immunity, the part of the immune system that involves antibodies circulating in the blood. [Reference: StatPearls - Histology, Plasma Cells]
- Lifespan: Plasma cells have a relatively short lifespan, but their antibody production is vital for immune defense.
- Morphology: Under a microscope, plasma cells have a characteristic appearance, often described as having a "clock-face" nucleus due to the arrangement of their chromatin.
Plasma Cell Disorders
While plasma cells are crucial for health, their uncontrolled proliferation can lead to serious diseases like multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. [Reference: Canadian Cancer Society - The plasma cells] Other plasma cell disorders include plasma cell leukemia and various other dyscrasias. [Reference: Merck Manual Consumer Version - Overview of Plasma Cell Disorders] These disorders are characterized by an abnormal clone of plasma cells. [Reference: PubMed - Neurologic aspects of plasma cell disorders] Plasma cell leukemia, for example, is diagnosed by the presence of more than 20% clonal plasma cells in the blood. [Reference: PMC - Plasma Cell Leukemia: Definition, Presentation, and Treatment]
In Summary
Plasma cells are essential components of our adaptive immune system, responsible for generating the large amounts of antibodies needed to combat infections and diseases. While generally beneficial, their dysfunction can lead to serious health problems.
