From the Guidelines
B cells are not elevated compared to plasma cells, as plasma cells are the primary source of antibody production and B cells mature into plasma cells to produce antibodies [ 1 ].
B Cell and Plasma Cell Relationship
- B cells are the precursors to plasma cells, and the correct sequence is B cells → plasma cells [ 1 ].
- Plasma cells do not express CD20 antigen and thus are not susceptible to ablation with the CD-20 antibody rituximab [ 1 ].
- The spleen houses the antibody-producing plasma cells and/or B cells that contribute to antibody production [ 1 ].
Clinical Implications
- B-cell aplasia is associated with sino-pulmonary infections and should be measured regularly [ 1 ].
- Immunoglobulin replacement is routine in pediatric CAR-T and may be necessary in adults with hypogammaglobulinemia and serious or recurrent/chronic infections [ 1 ].
- Plasma cells play a crucial role in producing antibodies, and their depletion can lead to hypogammaglobulinemia, characterized by low antibody levels in the blood and an increased risk of infection [ 1 ].
From the Research
B Cell and Plasma Cell Comparison
- B cells and plasma cells are both crucial components of the immune system, with B cells responsible for protective antibody production after differentiation into antibody-secreting cells during humoral immune responses 2.
- Plasma cells, on the other hand, are specialized terminally differentiated B cells that synthesize and secrete antibodies to maintain humoral immunity 3.
- The process of B cell differentiation into plasma cells involves significant changes in autophagic and mitochondrial functions, which play important roles in regulating B cell fate, survival, and function 2.
B Cell and Plasma Cell Quantification
- There is no direct comparison of the quantities of B cells and plasma cells in the provided studies.
- However, it is mentioned that plasma cells are rare cells located in the bone marrow or mucosa, suggesting that they may be less abundant than B cells 4.
- The study of plasma cells is also reported to be difficult due to their low frequency and location, which may imply that B cells are more prevalent 4.
B Cell Differentiation into Plasma Cells
- B cells can differentiate into plasma cells through a process involving the activation of B cells and the sequential differentiation into pre-plasmablasts, plasmablasts, and finally, long-lived plasma cells 4.
- This differentiation process can be reproduced in vitro using selected combinations of cytokines and activation molecules, allowing for the study of human B to plasma cell differentiation 4.
- The regulation of plasma cell differentiation from B cells involves various cellular and molecular mechanisms, including the expression of specific transcription factors and the production of cytokines 5.