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memory B lymphocyte
Also see immunological memory.
Physiology:
- activated B-cells proliferate & differentiate into
a) plasma cells
b) memory B-cells
- memory B-cells are:
a) long-lived
b) non-secreting (do not secrete antibody)
c) contain antigen-specific surface immunoglobin B-cell receptors
- when antigen-specific memory B-cells encounter the specific antigen that triggered their production, they proliferate & differentiate into plasma cells more efficiently than naive B-cells (primed antibody response)
- the primed antibody response can prevent a pathogen from causing disease, whereas the naive response may be unable to do so.
- memory B-cells may also be activated from exposure to cytokines produced by T-cells in response to unrelated antigens (bystander effect).
Related
antibody production
immunological memory
plasma cell
General
B lymphocyte
References
- Kelly DF et al,
Immunological memory: The role of B cells in long-term
production against invasive bacterial pathogens.
JAMA 2005; 294:3019
- Quast I, Tarlist
B cell memory: understanding COVID-19.
Immunity. 2021 Feb 9; 54(2): 205-210
PMID: 33513337
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826135/
- Cox RJ, Brokstad KA
Not just antibodies: B cells and T cells mediate immunity to COVID-19.
Nat Rev Immunol 2020. 20, 581-582. Aug 20.
PMID: 32839569 Free PMC article
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-020-00436-4