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B cells are important immune cells that fight infections. How is a naïve B cell stimulated to mature into a plasma cell that secretes antibodies? a. T cells secrete cytokines, which help the B cell to multiply and mature into an antibodyproducing plasma cell. b. Natural killer cells secrete cytokines, which help the B cell to multiply and mature into an antibody-producing plasma cell. c. T cells secrete interferons, which help the B cell to multiply and mature into an antibodyproducing plasma cell. d. Natural killer cells secrete interferons, which help the B cell to multiply and mature into an antibody-producing plasma cell.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Option (a) is correct. T cells secrete cytokines, helping B cells to mature into plasma cells that produce antibodies.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Key Players

Understand the role of B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, cytokines, and interferons in the immune response.
02

Role of Cytokines

Cytokines are signaling proteins that are crucial for cell communication in immune responses. They are typically secreted by T cells to help activate and mature B cells.
03

T Cells and B Cells Interaction

T cells can secrete cytokines, which facilitate the maturation and multiplication of B cells. This maturation process turns naïve B cells into plasma cells capable of secreting antibodies.
04

Analyze the Options

Check each option to see which pairs T cells with cytokines to help B cells mature. Option (a) matches this description.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

immune response
The immune response is the body's defense mechanism against pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
It involves a variety of cells and molecules working together to identify and eliminate threats.
One key player in the immune response is the B cell. B cells are responsible for producing antibodies, which are crucial in targeting and neutralizing pathogens.
The immune response can be divided into two main types:
  • Innate immune response: This is the first line of defense, providing a rapid but non-specific reaction.
  • Adaptive immune response: This involves a more targeted response, thanks to the action of B cells and T cells.
The adaptive immune response is powerful because it includes a memory component, which helps the body respond more efficiently to future threats of the same kind.
cytokines
Cytokines are signaling proteins that play an essential role in the immune system.
They help cells communicate, orchestrating the body's response to infections and injuries.
Key functions of cytokines include:
  • Regulating the growth of cells
  • Guiding cells to infection sites
  • Stimulating inflammation to combat pathogens
T cells are among the primary producers of cytokines in the immune system.
Without cytokines, the immune system would struggle to coordinate an effective response to invaders.
They are crucial in activating and maturing B cells into plasma cells that can produce antibodies.
T cells
T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a critical role in the adaptive immune response.
These cells originate in the thymus, which is why they are called 'T' cells.
There are several types of T cells, each with specific functions:
  • Helper T cells: Assist in the activation and maturation of other immune cells, including B cells, by secreting cytokines
  • Cytotoxic T cells: Directly kill infected cells
  • Regulatory T cells: Help to regulate the immune response to prevent excessive reactions
When a T cell comes into contact with a pathogen, it releases cytokines that initiate different immune processes.
These cytokines, in turn, stimulate B cells to mature into plasma cells, which are essential for the production of antibodies.
plasma cells
Plasma cells are specialized immune cells derived from B cells and play a central role in the immune response by producing antibodies.
When a B cell encounters an antigen, such as a pathogen, it gets activated with the help of cytokines released by T cells.
This activation causes the B cell to multiply and differentiate into plasma cells.
Key characteristics of plasma cells include:
  • High antibody production
  • Short lifespan but highly effective at neutralizing pathogens
  • Ability to target specific antigens
Plasma cells act as the main players in humoral immunity, a part of the adaptive immune response that involves circulating antibodies to combat infections.
antibodies
Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by plasma cells in response to antigens.
They are also known as immunoglobulins.
Here are some of their main functions:
  • Binds to and neutralizes pathogens
  • Marks invaders for destruction by other immune cells
  • Neutralizes toxins produced by pathogens
Each antibody is specific to a particular antigen, allowing the immune system to target and eliminate pathogens precisely.
The presence of antibodies during an immune response, and in subsequent exposures, ensures a faster and more effective defense against familiar pathogens.
This is the principle behind vaccines, which train the immune system to recognize specific pathogens by stimulating antibody production without causing disease.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is the difference between natural killer cells and macrophages? a. Natural killer cells are not always present in the body and must be induced, whereas macrophages are constantly present. b. Natural killer cells actually kill foreign cells, whereas macrophages serve only a signaling function. c. Only macrophages can invade host tissues to fight foreign cells that make their way into those tissues. d. Natural killer cells kill foreign cells through the processes of lysis and proteolysis, whereas macrophages kill foreign cells by phagocytosis.

Why might different MHC I molecules between donor and recipient cells lead to rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue? a. The natural killer cells in the recipient will identify the MHC I molecules on transplanted organ as non-self proteins, causing lysis of transplanted cells. Other host cells will join to phagocytize the foreign cells. b. The neutrophils in the recipient will identify the MHC I molecules on transplanted organ as nonself proteins, causing lysis of transplanted cells. Other host cells will join to phagocytize the foreign cells. c. B lymphocytes in the recipient will identify the MHC I molecules on transplanted organ as nonself proteins. The foreign cells will then be engulfed and destroyed by B lymphocytes. d. The macrophages in the recipient will identify the MHC I molecules on transplanted organ as non-self proteins, causing lysis of transplanted cells. Other host cells will join to phagocytize the foreign cells.

What is a likely reason to explain why vertebrate animals evolved an adaptive immune system rather than an innate system involving specific responses to specific pathogens? a. An adaptive immune system requires an immense amount of information to be stored, which allows vertebrate cells to be able to mount specific responses to every pathogen. b. As new pathogens evolve all the time, it is more conservative of energy and information storage to have an adaptive immune system that can respond to same pathogens in different ways. c. As new pathogens evolve all the time, it is more conservative of energy and information storage to have an adaptive immune system that can respond to different pathogens in a specific way. d. As new pathogens evolve all the time, it is more conservative of energy and information storage to have an adaptive immune system that can respond to different pathogens in a non-specific way.

The human genome contains less than 50,000 genes, yet a human has the capability of producing more than 1012different antibody molecules. How can this evidence be used to support the claim that the human body has an immune system that is both effective and efficient? a. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody need to have its own gene. b. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can nonspecifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This non-specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody does not need to have its own gene. c. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more efficient. The immune system is also effective because each antibody does not need to have its own gene. d. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody does not need to have its own gene.

How can you explain that the same antibodies found in an infant’s body are also present in the infant’s mother? a. Antibodies produced in the mother’s body are passed to the infant via passive immunity through breast milk. b. Antibodies produced in the mother’s body are passed to the infant via active immunity through breast milk. c. Antibodies produced in the mother’s body are passed to the infant via passive immunity through the placenta. d. Antibodies produced in the infant’s body are passed to the mother through the placenta.

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