Plasma cells

Plasma cells in the glossary for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

White blood cells that originate in the bone marrow and secrete large quantities of antibodies in response to antigen presentation

Plasma cells (also known as plasma B-cells), are white blood cells that originate in the bone marrow and secrete large quantities of antibodies in response to presentation of various antigens. These antibodies are transported from the plasma cells by the blood plasma and the lymphatic system to the site of the target antigen (foreign substance), where they initiate its neutralization or destruction. B-cells differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibody molecules closely modeled after the receptors of the precursor B-cell. Plasma cells are large lymphocytes with abundant cytoplasm and a characteristic appearance on light microscopy. Plasma cell malignancies include plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and plasma cell leukemia.