B-lymphocytes are associated with humoral immunity.
Humoral immunity is a type of immune response that involves the production of antibodies by B-lymphocytes (B-cells) to defend against extracellular pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses that are circulating in bodily fluids like blood and lymph. Here's how humoral immunity works:
- Antigen Encounter: B-lymphocytes have surface receptors that can recognize specific antigens (foreign substances) present on the surface of pathogens. When a B-cell encounters an antigen that matches its receptor, it binds to the antigen.
- Activation and Clonal Expansion: The binding of the B-cell to the antigen triggers a series of cellular events that lead to the activation of the B-cell. The activated B-cell undergoes clonal expansion, resulting in the production of many identical daughter cells known as plasma cells.
- Antibody Production: Plasma cells are specialized to secrete large quantities of antibodies. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are proteins that can specifically bind to the antigen that triggered their production.
- Antibody Function: The antibodies released into the bloodstream or other body fluids can bind to and neutralize the antigens on the surface of pathogens. This neutralization can prevent the pathogens from infecting host cells and also marks them for destruction by other immune cells.
- Memory B-cells: During the clonal expansion, some B-cells differentiate into memory B-cells. These memory cells "remember" the antigen they encountered, and upon re-exposure to the same antigen in the future, they can mount a rapid and robust immune response, leading to faster and more effective elimination of the pathogen.
In summary, B-lymphocytes are an essential part of humoral immunity, producing antibodies that specifically recognize and neutralize antigens present in bodily fluids, thereby protecting the body from infections caused by extracellular pathogens.
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