New insights into the mechanisms regulating plasma cell survival and longevity

Plasma cells correspond to the last stage of B cell differentiation and are professional antibody-secreting cells. While most persist for only few days, some may survive for weeks to years in dedicated survival niches. The determination of plasma cell survival rate seems to rely both on intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Although often opposed, the deterministic and environmental models for plasma cell longevity are certainly overlapping. Understanding the contribution and the regulation of these different factors is paramount to develop better vaccines but also to target malignant plasma cells. Here, we review recent literature highlighting new findings pertaining to plasma cell survival rate, intrinsic regulation of plasma cell persistence and function, as well as the plasma cell/niche dialogue. Moreover, the now well-recognised heterogeneity observed among plasma cells is also discussed.