The making of a professional secretory cell: architectural and functional changes in the ER during B lymphocyte plasma cell differentiation.
B lymphocytes are small cells that express antigen receptors and secrete little if any IgM. Upon encounter with antigen, they differentiate into short-lived plasma cells, which secrete large amounts of polymeric IgM. Plasma cell differentiation entails a massive development of the endoplasmic reticulum to sustain high levels of Ig production. Recent findings suggest a role for the unfolded protein response in orchestrating the architectural and functional changes during terminal plasma cell differentiation.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017510:Protein Folding