Plasmacyte (Noun)
Meaning
A cell that develops from a B lymphocyte in reaction to a specific antigen; found in bone marrow and sometimes in the blood.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The plasmacyte is involved in the humoral immune response, responsible for producing large amounts of antibodies in response to an invading pathogen.
- In the bone marrow, plasmacytes mature and differentiate from activated B cells, developing the necessary machinery to synthesize and secrete antibodies.
- The presence of abnormal plasmacytes in the blood can be a sign of certain diseases, such as multiple myeloma or Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
- Plasmacytes play a crucial role in the body's defense against infection, as they are responsible for producing antibodies that help to neutralize and remove pathogens.
- In the process of antibody production, the plasmacyte undergoes significant changes in its structure and function, becoming specialized for the mass production of immunoglobulins.