Question

A type of B-lymphocyte that produces antibody is

• A. Erythrocyte
• B. Adipocyte
• C. Plasma cell
• D. Memory cell

Hint:

Plasma cells are the active "antibody factories" of the humoral immune response, while Memory B cells remain dormant to provide long-term immunological memory.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
B-lymphocytes (B cells) are key components of the adaptive immune system, responsible for humoral immunity through the production of antigen-specific antibodies.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When a naive B-lymphocyte encounters its complementary antigen and receives activating signals from helper T cells, it undergoes clonal expansion and differentiation.
This activation pathway produces two distinct populations of cells:
1. Plasma cells: These are fully differentiated effector B cells specialized to produce and secrete large quantities of soluble antibodies into the blood and lymph.
Plasma cells contain an expanded rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to support high-rate protein synthesis.
2. Memory B cells (D): These are long-lived cells that do not actively secrete antibodies during the primary immune response.
Instead, they persist in circulation to recognize the antigen upon future exposures, allowing for a rapid secondary immune response.
Erythrocytes (A) are red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport, and adipocytes (B) are connective tissue cells specialized for fat storage.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the antibody-producing cell is the plasma cell, which corresponds to option (C).