Which of the following types of cells produce and release antibodies?
A.
Natural killer cells.
B.
Cytotoxic T-cells.
C.
Plasma B cells.
D.
Helper T-cells.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is C. Plasma B cells.
Explanation:
Plasma B cells are specialized cells of the immune system responsible for producing and secreting antibodies. These cells originate from B lymphocytes (B cells), which are a type of white blood cell.
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are proteins that specifically recognize and bind to antigens, which are foreign molecules such as those found on pathogens like bacteria and viruses. When a B cell encounters an antigen that matches its specific receptor, it can differentiate into a plasma B cell. Once differentiated, these plasma B cells become the primary antibody-producing factories in the body.
Natural killer cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and helper T-cells are other types of immune cells with different roles:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are involved in the innate immune response and are responsible for killing infected or cancerous cells directly. They do not produce antibodies.
- Cytotoxic T-cells (or CD8+ T-cells) are part of the adaptive immune response and can kill cells infected with viruses or transformed by cancer. They do this by recognizing specific antigens presented by infected cells but do not produce antibodies.
- Helper T-cells (or CD4+ T-cells) assist other immune cells by releasing cytokines that enhance the activity of other immune cells, such as B cells and cytotoxic T-cells. They play a crucial role in coordinating the immune response but do not directly produce antibodies.
In summary, plasma B cells are the cells specifically tasked with the production and release of antibodies, which are essential for identifying and neutralizing pathogens.