What role do plasma cells play in the antigen-antibody response?

Plasma cells are specialized B cells that play a crucial role in the immune response by producing antibodies specific to an antigen that the body has been exposed to. When a B cell encounters its corresponding antigen, it undergoes activation and differentiation into a plasma cell. These plasma cells then secrete large quantities of antibodies, which are proteins specifically designed to bind to that antigen.

This process is key in establishing a tailored immune response; the antibodies can neutralize the pathogen, mark it for destruction by other immune cells, or prevent it from infecting host cells. Thus, the primary function of plasma cells is to produce antibodies against the sensitizing antigen, effectively forming a crucial component of the adaptive immune response.