In B cell development, which cell type actively produces and secretes antibodies?

• A. Plasma cell (antibody-secreting effector B cell)
• B. Pro-B cell
• C. T follicular helper (Tfh) cell
• D. Naive mature B cell

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the stages of B cell development: B cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells and progress through several stages including Pro-B cells, Pre-B cells, immature B cells, and mature B cells.
2. Recognize the function of each cell type: Pro-B cells are early precursors that do not produce antibodies; Naive mature B cells have receptors for antigens but do not secrete antibodies yet; T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a type of T cell that helps B cells but do not produce antibodies themselves.
3. Identify the effector B cell responsible for antibody secretion: Upon activation by antigen and Tfh cell help, mature B cells differentiate into plasma cells.
4. Recall that plasma cells are specialized B cells that actively produce and secrete large amounts of antibodies to fight pathogens.
5. Conclude that among the given options, the plasma cell is the correct cell type that actively produces and secretes antibodies.