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Plasma cells are a type of red blood cell primarily responsible for oxygen transport.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell (B lymphocyte) primarily responsible for antibody secretion, not oxygen transport, which is a function of red blood cells.
Antibodies secreted by plasma cells are transported exclusively through the lymphatic system to target antigens.
Answer: False
Explanation: Antibodies secreted by plasma cells are transported through both the blood plasma and the lymphatic system to reach target antigens, not exclusively through the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is a vital part of the immune system and is primarily associated with plasma cells.
Answer: True
Explanation: The lymphatic system is indeed a vital component of the immune system and is primarily associated with plasma cells, which are key effectors of humoral immunity.
Under a light microscope, plasma cells typically appear as small lymphocytes with an evenly stained nucleus.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plasma cells are typically observed as large lymphocytes with abundant cytoplasm and an eccentric nucleus where the heterochromatin is arranged in a distinctive cartwheel or 'clock face' pattern, not as small lymphocytes with an evenly stained nucleus.
The extensive Golgi apparatus and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum in plasma cells make them highly efficient at secreting immunoglobulins.
Answer: True
Explanation: Plasma cells possess an extensive Golgi apparatus and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, which are specialized organelles that collectively enable their highly efficient synthesis, processing, and secretion of immunoglobulins (antibodies).
A single plasma cell can produce multiple kinds of antibodies or immunoglobulin classes simultaneously.
Answer: False
Explanation: A single plasma cell is clonally committed to producing only one specific kind of antibody within a single immunoglobulin class, not multiple kinds or classes simultaneously.
The prolific production of antibodies by plasma cells is a minor aspect of the humoral immune response.
Answer: False
Explanation: The prolific production of antibodies by plasma cells, with thousands produced per second, is an integral and essential aspect of the humoral immune response, not a minor one.
The Latin term for plasma cell is 'plasmocytus'.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Latin term for a plasma cell is indeed 'plasmocytus'.
A distinct clear perinuclear region in a plasma cell micrograph indicates the presence of numerous ribosomes.
Answer: False
Explanation: A distinct clear perinuclear region in a plasma cell micrograph signifies the presence of a large, well-developed Golgi apparatus, an organelle involved in protein processing and packaging, rather than numerous ribosomes.
Dutcher and Russell bodies are intranuclear and eosinophilic inclusions, respectively, found within plasma cells, indicating excessive immunoglobulin synthesis.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dutcher bodies are indeed intranuclear immunoglobulin inclusions, and Russell bodies are eosinophilic, cytoplasmic immunoglobulin inclusions found within plasma cells, both serving as indicators of excessive immunoglobulin synthesis.
The rough endoplasmic reticulum in plasma cells is primarily responsible for packaging and secreting antibodies.
Answer: False
Explanation: The rough endoplasmic reticulum in plasma cells is primarily the site for antibody *synthesis*, while the Golgi apparatus is responsible for their subsequent processing, packaging, and secretion.
What is the primary function of plasma cells in the human body?
Answer: To secrete large quantities of antibodies
Which anatomical system is primarily associated with plasma cells?
Answer: Lymphatic system
What distinctive pattern does the heterochromatin in the eccentric nucleus of a plasma cell exhibit under a light microscope?
Answer: A cartwheel or clock face pattern
Which organelles are particularly prominent in plasma cells due to their role in secreting immunoglobulins?
Answer: Extensive Golgi apparatus and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum
How many kinds of antibodies or immunoglobulin classes can a single plasma cell produce?
Answer: Only a single kind within a single class
What does the distinct clear perinuclear region in a plasma cell micrograph indicate?
Answer: Large numbers of Golgi bodies
What is the significance of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in plasma cells?
Answer: It is the primary site for antibody synthesis.
Plasma cells differentiate from T cells and produce antibodies modeled after T cell receptors.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plasma cells differentiate from B cells, not T cells, and their antibodies are modeled after the B cell receptors of their precursors, not T cell receptors.
After leaving the bone marrow, a B cell internalizes antigens and presents them on MHC I molecules to T cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: After leaving the bone marrow, a B cell internalizes antigens and presents them on MHC class II molecules to T cells, not MHC class I molecules.
B cell activation requires a 'two-factor authentication' mechanism involving only the encounter with a foreign antigen.
Answer: False
Explanation: B cell activation requires a 'two-factor authentication' mechanism that includes both the encounter with a foreign antigen and subsequent activation by CD4+ T helper cells, not solely the antigen encounter.
The differentiation of activated B cells into specialized cells like memory B cells or plasmablasts typically occurs in germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs.
Answer: True
Explanation: The differentiation of activated B cells into specialized cells such as memory B cells or plasmablasts indeed typically takes place within the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs.
Affinity maturation is a process that selects for B cell clones capable of binding antigens with lower affinity, making antibodies less specific.
Answer: False
Explanation: Affinity maturation is a process that selects for B cell clones capable of binding antigens with *higher* affinity, thereby ensuring the production of more effective and specific antibodies.
Plasmablasts are fully mature plasma cells that have lost the ability to divide and present antigens.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plasmablasts are immature plasma cells that retain the ability to divide rapidly and present antigens, distinguishing them from fully mature plasma cells which lose these capacities.
A plasmablast will always differentiate into a mature, fully differentiated plasma cell and never undergo programmed cell death.
Answer: False
Explanation: A plasmablast can either undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) or differentiate into a mature, fully differentiated plasma cell; it does not always differentiate into a mature plasma cell.
Blimp-1/PRDM1, BCL6, and IRF4 are essential transcription factors for the differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells.
Answer: True
Explanation: Blimp-1/PRDM1, BCL6, and IRF4 are indeed essential transcription factors that critically regulate the differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells.
Mature plasma cells retain the ability to switch antibody classes and function as antigen-presenting cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mature plasma cells lose the ability to switch antibody classes and no longer function as antigen-presenting cells, as they downregulate MHC class II molecules.
T cell-independent antigen stimulation typically results in long-lived plasma cells that primarily secrete IgG antibodies.
Answer: False
Explanation: T cell-independent antigen stimulation typically results in short-lived plasma cells that primarily secrete IgM antibodies, not long-lived plasma cells secreting IgG.
A secondary T cell-dependent immune response generates longer-lived plasma cells that produce IgG and IgA antibodies and frequently migrate to the bone marrow.
Answer: True
Explanation: A secondary T cell-dependent immune response indeed generates longer-lived plasma cells that produce IgG and IgA antibodies and frequently migrate to the bone marrow for sustained antibody production.
If plasma cells mature in the presence of interferon-gamma, they are likely to secrete IgA antibodies.
Answer: False
Explanation: If plasma cells mature in the presence of interferon-gamma, they are preferentially induced to secrete IgG3 antibodies, not IgA antibodies.
Somatic hypermutation, completed after differentiation into a plasma cell, leads to lower affinity antibodies.
Answer: False
Explanation: Somatic hypermutation occurs *before* differentiation into a plasma cell and leads to the production of antibodies with *higher* affinity for their specific antigen, not lower affinity.
What is the 'two-factor authentication' mechanism required for B cell activation?
Answer: Encountering a foreign antigen and activation by CD4+ T helper cells.
Where does the differentiation of activated B cells into specialized cells like memory B cells or plasmablasts typically occur?
Answer: Germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs
What is the primary outcome of affinity maturation in B cells?
Answer: Selection and growth of B cell clones with higher antigen affinity
How do plasmablasts differ from fully mature plasma cells in terms of antibody secretion and antigen presentation?
Answer: Plasmablasts secrete fewer antibodies and can still present antigens.
Which of the following transcription factors is essential for the differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells?
Answer: Blimp-1/PRDM1
Which of the following is a characteristic of mature plasma cells, distinguishing them from their B cell precursors?
Answer: They no longer display MHC-II molecules.
What type of plasma cells and antibodies typically result from T cell-independent antigen stimulation?
Answer: Short-lived plasma cells primarily secreting IgM
What is the effect of interferon-gamma on the type of antibodies secreted by plasma cells?
Answer: It leads to the secretion of IgG3 antibodies.
What is the relationship between somatic hypermutation and the affinity of antibodies produced by plasma cells?
Answer: Somatic hypermutation occurs before plasma cell differentiation and leads to high-affinity antibodies.
What is the ultimate fate of a plasmablast?
Answer: It can either undergo programmed cell death or differentiate into a mature plasma cell.
Plasma cells are terminally differentiated and can be identified by their high expression of common pan-B cell markers like CD19 and CD20.
Answer: False
Explanation: While plasma cells are terminally differentiated, they typically express few surface antigens and do not commonly express pan-B cell markers like CD19 and CD20. Instead, they are identified by markers such as CD138, CD78, and the Interleukin-6 receptor.
In humans, CD27 is a marker that is highly expressed on naive B cells, distinguishing them from plasma cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: In humans, CD27 is highly expressed on plasma cells (CD27++), while naive B cells are CD27-negative, making this marker useful for distinguishing these cell types.
CD138 (syndecan-1) is a surface antigen expressed at high levels on plasma cells and is also a significant marker in multiple myeloma.
Answer: True
Explanation: CD138 (syndecan-1) is indeed expressed at high levels on plasma cells and serves as a significant marker for both normal plasma cells and malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma.
CD319 (SLAMF7) is a less reliable marker for isolating malignant plasma cells ex vivo compared to CD138 due to its instability.
Answer: False
Explanation: CD319 (SLAMF7) is considered a more reliable marker than CD138 for isolating malignant plasma cells ex vivo because its expression is considerably more stable under these conditions.
The human long-lived plasma cell population can be identified by specific surface markers as CD19-, CD38hi, and CD138+ cells.
Answer: True
Explanation: The human long-lived plasma cell population is indeed phenotypically characterized by the specific surface marker expression profile of CD19-negative, CD38-high, and CD138-positive.
How are terminally differentiated plasma cells typically identified using flow cytometry, given they express few common B cell markers?
Answer: By their expression of CD138, CD78, and the Interleukin-6 receptor
In humans, how is CD27 expression used to distinguish plasma cells from naive and memory B cells?
Answer: Naïve B cells are CD27-, memory B cells are CD27+, and plasma cells are CD27++.
Which surface antigen is expressed at high levels on plasma cells and is also a significant marker for malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma?
Answer: CD138
Why is CD319 (SLAMF7) considered a more reliable marker than CD138 for isolating malignant plasma cells ex vivo?
Answer: CD319 expression is considerably more stable ex vivo.
How can human long-lived plasma cells be identified using surface markers?
Answer: CD19-, CD38hi, CD138+
After affinity maturation, plasma cells develop into either short-lived or long-lived types.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following affinity maturation in germinal centers, plasma cells indeed differentiate into one of two main types: short-lived plasma cells or long-lived plasma cells.
Long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) primarily reside in the spleen and require antigen restimulation to maintain antibody production.
Answer: False
Explanation: Long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) primarily reside in the bone marrow, not the spleen, and do not require antigen restimulation to maintain continuous antibody production.
The 'plasma cell survival niche' in the bone marrow is crucial for the long-term survival of long-lived plasma cells.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 'plasma cell survival niche' within the bone marrow provides the essential microenvironmental cues necessary for the long-term viability and persistence of long-lived plasma cells.
A plasma cell survival niche can support an unlimited number of long-lived plasma cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: A plasma cell survival niche has a finite capacity and can only support a limited number of long-lived plasma cells, implying a competitive environment for residence.
IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, stromal cell-derived factor-1α, and signaling via CD44 are factors that define the plasma cell survival niche.
Answer: True
Explanation: Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), and signaling through CD44 are indeed recognized molecular and cellular factors that contribute to the definition and maintenance of the plasma cell survival niche.
Long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) are exclusively found in the bone marrow and do not contribute to mucosal immunity.
Answer: False
Explanation: While long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) primarily reside in the bone marrow, they are also found in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), where they produce IgA antibodies, thereby contributing significantly to mucosal immunity.
Recent findings confirm that continuous antibody production is solely due to the constant replenishment of short-lived plasma cells through memory B cell restimulation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Recent immunological findings have challenged the traditional view, demonstrating that continuous antibody production is also significantly sustained by genuinely long-lived plasma cells whose activity is independent of memory B cell restimulation.
Prolonged depletion of B cells, such as with anti-CD20 treatment, significantly reduces antibody titers produced by long-lived plasma cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: Prolonged depletion of B cells, for example, with anti-CD20 treatment, does not significantly reduce antibody titers produced by long-lived plasma cells, as these cells maintain antibody production independently of memory B cells.
Long-lived plasma cells residing in the bone marrow are the main source of circulating IgG in humans.
Answer: True
Explanation: Long-lived plasma cells residing in the bone marrow are indeed recognized as the predominant source of circulating IgG in humans, contributing significantly to systemic humoral immunity.
What are the two main types of plasma cells that develop after affinity maturation?
Answer: Short-lived and Long-lived plasma cells
Where do long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) primarily reside to provide long-term protection?
Answer: Bone marrow
Do long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) require antigen restimulation to produce antibodies?
Answer: No, they do not require antigen restimulation.
What is the consequence if a long-lived plasma cell is removed from its survival niche in the bone marrow?
Answer: It rapidly dies.
Which of the following is a characteristic of the plasma cell survival niche regarding the number of LLPC it can support?
Answer: It can only support a limited number of LLPC.
Besides the bone marrow, where else can long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) be found, and what is their function there?
Answer: In gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), producing IgA antibodies for mucosal immunity.
What recent finding challenged the traditional view that continuous antibody production relies solely on memory B cell restimulation?
Answer: Evidence that some plasma cells are genuinely long-lived and produce antibodies independently of antigen restimulation.
What is the main source of circulating IgG in humans, according to the provided text?
Answer: Long-lived plasma cells residing in the bone marrow.
How does the immune system benefit from the existence of long-lived plasma cells (LLPC)?
Answer: They provide sustained, long-term protection against previously encountered pathogens.
Multiple myeloma is often identified clinically by the presence of a paraprotein, an antibody produced by malignant plasma cells.
Answer: True
Explanation: Multiple myeloma is frequently identified clinically by the detection of a paraprotein (monoclonal immunoglobulin) in the blood or urine, which is aberrantly produced by the malignant plasma cells.
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a benign condition with no potential to progress to multiple myeloma.
Answer: False
Explanation: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is clinically relevant because it carries a potential risk of progression to multiple myeloma or related lymphoproliferative disorders, thus it is not considered entirely benign.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is thought to result from a problem in T cell differentiation, leading to high antibody levels.
Answer: False
Explanation: Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is believed to stem from a defect in the differentiation process from lymphocytes to plasma cells, which leads to persistently low serum antibody levels, not high levels.
Primary amyloidosis (AL) is caused by the deposition of excess immunoglobulin heavy chains secreted from plasma cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: Primary amyloidosis (AL) is caused by the extracellular deposition of excess immunoglobulin *light* chains, which are secreted from clonal plasma cells, not heavy chains.
Which of the following is a cancer that originates from plasma cells?
Answer: Multiple myeloma
How is multiple myeloma frequently identified clinically?
Answer: By the presence of a paraprotein (antibody) in the blood.
What is the clinical relevance of Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)?
Answer: It can potentially progress to multiple myeloma.
What is believed to be the underlying problem in Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)?
Answer: A problem in the differentiation process from lymphocytes to plasma cells.
Primary amyloidosis (AL) is caused by the deposition of excess amounts of which substance, secreted from plasma cells?
Answer: Immunoglobulin light chains
What is the primary characteristic displayed by malignant plasma cells in a plasmacytoma micrograph?
Answer: Many cells with characteristic 'clockface nuclei'