Summary:
- Plasma cells are activated B cells that secrete antibodies.
- Antibodies are large, Y-shaped proteins that recognize and bind to antigens.
- The antibodies travel throughout the body in blood and lymph.
- Long-living plasma cells are called memory cells.
- They retain a “memory” of a specific pathogen long after an infection is over.
- They help launch a rapid response against the pathogen if it invades the body again in the future.
- They may even survive for the lifetime of the individual.