2.4.4

B Lymphocytes

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B Lymphocytes

B lymphocyte cells are white blood cells that are involved in the humoral immune response. The steps involved in this process are:

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1) Activation of B cells

  • TH cells activates B cells.
  • Activation of the B cells causes the B cells to divide into identical cells called plasma cells.
  • The selection of the correct B cell with a complementary receptor to a pathogen's antigen is called clonal selection.
  • Once the correct B cell has been selected, it divides multiple times to produce many identical plasma cells. Plasma cells make antibodies against specific antigens. This process is called clonal expansion.
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2) Detection of antigens

  • B cells have specific proteins called antibodies on their cell surface membranes.
  • Each antibody is complementary (specific) to a specific antigen.
  • When an antigen binds to an antibody, an antigen-antibody complex is formed.
  • Binding of antigens to B cells also causes clonal selection.
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3) Plasma cells

  • Clonal selection leads to clonal expansion, which is the production of many plasma cells that have the specific antibodies for the antigens present in the body.
  • The antibodies are called monoclonal antibodies.
  • Monoclonal antibodies bind to the antigens of the pathogens.
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4) Agglutination

  • Agglutination 'clumps' the pathogens together.
  • The pathogens are engulfed by phagocytes via phagocytosis.
  • The pathogens are destroyed.

Jump to other topics

1Biological Molecules

2Cells

3Substance Exchange

4Genetic Information & Variation

5Energy Transfers (A2 only)

6Responding to Change (A2 only)

7Genetics & Ecosystems (A2 only)

8The Control of Gene Expression (A2 only)

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