B-cell

<haematology, immunology> A type of lymphocyte normally involved in the production of antibodies to combat infection. It is a precursor to a plasma cell. During infections, individual B-cell clones multiply and are transformed into plasma cells, which produce large amounts of antibodies against a particular antigen on a foreign microbe. This transformation occurs through interaction with the appropriate CD4 T helper cells.

(09 Oct 1997)


Terms mentioned in text: haematology, immunology, type, lymphocyte, involved, production, antibodies, infection, precursor, plasma cell, individual, b-cell, clones, multiply, plasma cells, produce, large, amounts, antibodies, particular, antigen, foreign, microbe, transformation, through, interaction, cd4, t helper cells
Previous terms: bazex, a, bazex's syndrome, bazin, antoine, bazin's disease, b c1 complex
Next terms: b-cell antigen receptors, b-cell differentiating factor