Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Analysis of Shear Flow-induced Migration of Murine Marginal Zone B Cells In Vitro
08:31

Analysis of Shear Flow-induced Migration of Murine Marginal Zone B Cells In Vitro

Published on: November 26, 2018

Morphological evidence for a motile behavior by plasma cells

Z N Berneman1, Z Z Chen, M E Peetermans

  • 1Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium.

Leukemia
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Plasma cells exhibit motility-associated features, including axon-like extensions, in both human long-term bone marrow cultures (HLTBMCs) and original bone marrow (BM) samples. These findings suggest in vivo and in vitro motility in normal and cancerous plasma cells.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Plasma cells are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes.
  • Their morphology and function in various conditions are areas of ongoing research.
  • Motility in plasma cells is not a widely recognized characteristic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate novel motility-associated morphological features in plasma cells.
  • To determine if these features are present in vitro and in vivo.
  • To observe these features in both normal and malignant plasma cells.

Main Methods:

  • Immunofluorescence microscopy of human long-term bone marrow cultures (HLTBMCs).
  • Morphological analysis of May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained bone marrow (BM) smears.
  • Comparison of normal and myelomatous bone marrow samples.

Main Results:

  • HLTBMCs revealed plasma cells with surface blebs and long, axon-like extensions.
  • Similar extensions were observed in uncultured BM smears from normal and myelomatous individuals.
  • Features were most pronounced in a case of plasma cell leukemia.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma cells possess motility-associated morphological features, including axon-like extensions.
  • These features are observable both in vitro (HLTBMCs) and in vivo (BM smears).
  • The findings suggest a previously unrecognized aspect of plasma cell behavior in normal and malignant states.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells10:26

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells

Published on: January 20, 2019

Microscopic Observation of Lymphocyte Dynamics in Rat Peyer's Patches06:31

Microscopic Observation of Lymphocyte Dynamics in Rat Peyer's Patches

Published on: June 25, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Types of Membrane Protrusions01:28

Types of Membrane Protrusions

The protrusion of the cell surface is an initial step for several cellular processes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, and neurite outgrowth. These membrane protrusions are a result of cytoskeletal rearrangement. The most  widely observed cell protrusions include lamellipodia, pseudopodia, filopodia, microvilli, invadopodia, and podosomes. These protrusions can be of two types — static or dynamic.
The microvilli, an example of stable protrusions, are finger-like projections with a...
Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...