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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
Plasma cell development: from B-cell subsets to long-term survival niches
Kirsten A Fairfax1, Axel Kallies, Stephen L Nutt
1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville 3050, Australia.
New methods for identifying mouse plasma cells reveal insights into antibody-secreting cell (ASC) development and maintenance. Researchers can now precisely track ASC generation and monitor plasma cell changes with aging and immunization.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Plasma cells are crucial for antibody production.
- Understanding plasma cell development is key to immune response.
- Previous methods limited detailed analysis of plasma cell dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail recent advances in identifying and analyzing mouse plasma cells.
- To explore the development and maintenance of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs).
- To define the genetic programs underlying plasma cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing green fluorescent protein (GFP) insertion into the Blimp1 locus for tracking B cell-derived ASCs.
- Employing in vivo identification of plasma cells to define their phenotype.
- Monitoring plasma cell frequency changes in response to aging and immunization.
Main Results:
- Quantified efficiency and kinetics of ASC generation from mature B cell subsets.
- Defined the phenotype of in vivo identified plasma cells.
- Observed changes in plasma cell frequency related to aging and immunization.
- Enabled more precise definition of the genetic program for plasma cell differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Recent advances provide powerful tools for studying plasma cell development and maintenance.
- The B-cell subsets giving rise to plasma cells are better understood.
- In vivo monitoring offers new perspectives on plasma cell dynamics throughout the lifespan and immune challenges.
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