B Cells

B cells, or B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune system. They are primarily responsible for producing antibodies that recognize and bind to specific antigens.

B cells are central to humoral immunity, the aspect of immunity that involves the production of antibodies circulating in body fluids. They can present antigens to T cells, aiding in the activation of other immune responses. Some B cells, after an initial infection, can become memory B cells, which provide long-term immunity by quickly responding to future exposures to the same antigen.

Clinical relevance
B cells play a role in vaccines (which stimulate B cell responses for long-lasting immunity), autoimmune diseases (abnormal B cell activity can trigger the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own tissue), immunodeficiencies (defects in B cell development can lead to increased susceptibility to infections), and B cell lymphomas (certain cancers originate from malignant B cells).