Which cells are responsible for producing antibodies?

B-cells are the specialized cells responsible for producing antibodies. These cells play a crucial role in the adaptive immune response. When B-cells encounter an antigen—usually a foreign substance like a virus or bacterium—they can differentiate into plasma cells, which are the actual antibody-secreting cells. Antibodies are proteins that specifically bind to antigens, marking them for destruction by other immune cells or neutralizing their effect directly.

The process of antibody production begins when B-cells recognize an antigen through their B-cell receptors. This recognition leads to their activation and proliferation. Some of the activated B-cells become memory B-cells, which help the immune system respond more quickly upon subsequent exposures to the same antigen. This memory aspect is a vital part of how vaccinations work, by training the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens efficiently.

Understanding the function of B-cells underscores their importance in humoral immunity, contrasting them with other immune cell types. For example, while macrophages and dendritic cells are crucial for antigen presentation and phagocytosis, they do not produce antibodies. Similarly, helper T-cells assist in the activation of B-cells and other immune responses but are not directly involved in antibody production.