Plasma Cell Structure and Development
- Plasma cells have basophilic cytoplasm and an eccentric nucleus with heterochromatin in a characteristic cartwheel or clock face arrangement.
- They have abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and a well-developed Golgi apparatus for secreting immunoglobulins.
- Other organelles in a plasma cell include ribosomes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and the plasma membrane.
- B cells act as antigen-presenting cells and internalize antigens.
- T cells activate B cells, leading to differentiation into plasma cells.
- Germinal center B cells may differentiate into memory B cells or plasma cells.
- B cells undergo affinity maturation to produce antibodies of higher affinity.
Surface Antigens and Function of Plasma Cells
- Plasma cells express CD138, CD78, and the Interleukin-6 receptor.
- CD27 is a good marker for plasma cells.
- CD319 (SLAMF7) is expressed at high levels on normal and malignant plasma cells.
- Plasma cells cannot switch antibody classes or act as antigen-presenting cells.
- Lifespan, antibody class, and location of plasma cells depend on signals received from T cells.
- T cell-independent antigen stimulation results in short-lived plasma cells producing IgM antibodies.
- T cell-dependent processes produce longer-lived plasma cells producing IgG and IgA antibodies.
- Plasma cells can produce a single kind of antibody in a single class of immunoglobulin.
Survival Mechanisms and Antibody Production of Long-Lived Plasma Cells
- IL-6, TNF-α, stromal cell-derived factor-1α, and signalling via CD44 contribute to the survival of long-lived plasma cells (LLPC).
- LLPC can be found in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and nasal-associated lymphoid tissues (NALT), suggesting the existence of tissue-specific survival niches.
- LLPC in the gut may not necessarily be generated de novo from active B cells.
- The absence of antigens and depletion of B cells do not affect the production of high-affinity antibodies by LLPC.
- LLPC in the bone marrow are the main source of circulating IgG in humans.
- LLPC in bone marrow produce high levels of IgG independently of B cells.
- Some plasma cells in bone marrow also produce IgA and IgM.
- LLPC play a role in mucosal immunity by producing IgA antibodies in GALT.
- LLPC contribute to the production of high-affinity antibodies in the absence of B cells.
Clinical Significance of Plasma Cells
- Plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and plasma cell leukemia are cancers of the plasma cells.
- Multiple myeloma is often identified by the continued production of an antibody, detectable as a paraprotein.
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) can lead to multiple myeloma and is characterized by the secretion of a myeloma protein.
- Common variable immunodeficiency is associated with a problem in the differentiation from lymphocytes to plasma cells, resulting in low serum antibody levels and increased infection risk.
- Primary amyloidosis (AL) is caused by the deposition of excess immunoglobulin light chains secreted by plasma cells.
Related Concepts and References
- Plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma are plasma cell dyscrasias.
- Leukocyte and plasma cell dyscrasia are related terms to plasma cells.
- The textbook 'Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology' discusses plasma cells.
- 'Plasma Cell - an overview' is a topic covered in ScienceDirect Topics.
- 'Plasma Cell - biology' is a topic covered in Britannica.com.
- 'Plasma Cell - LabCE.com, Laboratory Continuing Education' is a topic covered on www.labce.com.
- 'Textbook of Immunology' (2nd edition) by Bona C, Bonilla FA, and Soohoo M provides information on plasma cells.
- 'Current Protocols in Cytometry' (Chapter 6: Unit 6.23) by Rawstron AC discusses immunophenotyping of plasma cells.
- 'Blood' (123(9): 1336–40) by Frigyesi I et al. provides insights into the isolation of malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma.
Plasma cells, also called plasma B cells or effector B cells, are white blood cells that originate in the lymphoid organs as B cells and secrete large quantities of proteins called antibodies in response to being presented specific substances called antigens. These antibodies are transported from the plasma cells by the blood plasma and the lymphatic system to the site of the target antigen (foreign substance), where they initiate its neutralization or destruction. B cells differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibody molecules closely modeled after the receptors of the precursor B cell.
| Plasma cell | |
|---|---|
 Micrograph of malignant plasma cells (plasmacytoma), many displaying characteristic "clockface nuclei", also seen in normal plasma cells. H&E stain. | |
 Micrograph of a plasma cell with distinct clear perinuclear region of the cytoplasm, which contains large numbers of Golgi bodies. | |
| Details | |
| System | Lymphatic system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | plasmocytus |
| MeSH | D010950 |
| TH | H2.00.03.0.01006 |
| FMA | 70574 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
plasma cell (plural plasma cells)
