How are B cells activated to become plasma cells?

by airgap

How are B cells activated to become plasma cells?

Answer by O8SERVER V
After leaving the bone marrow, the B cell acts as an antigen presenting cell (APC) and internalizes offending antigens. That antigen is taken up by the B cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis and processed.

Pieces of the pathogen are loaded onto MHC II molecules, and presented on its extracellular surface to CD4+ T cells (sometimes called T helper cells). These T cells bind to the MHC II/antigen molecule and cause activation of the B cell.

Answer by Westlifer
1) B cell has surface B cell receptors and this binds to soluble foreign molecules (antigens), process it and then present a piece of the antigen on MHC class II
2) An effector (activated) T cell, which was activated by Dendritic cells will bind to the antigen presented on the MHC class II of the B cell (along with CD40 and CD40L binding)
3) The T cell then releases cytokines, which act on the B cell to turn it into a plasma cell

Give your answer to this question below! Information about multiple myeloma and other plasma cell neoplasms.

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