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  • B cell
    B cell
    noun
    a type of lymphocyte, developed in bone marrow, that circulates in the blood and lymph and, upon encountering a particular foreign antigen, differentiates into a clone of plasma cells that secrete a specific antibody and a clone of memory cells that make the antibody on subsequent encounters.
  • B-cell
    B-cell
    noun
    another name for B-lymphocyte

B cell

American  

noun

Biology.
  1. Also called B lymphocyte.  a type of lymphocyte, developed in bone marrow, that circulates in the blood and lymph and, upon encountering a particular foreign antigen, differentiates into a clone of plasma cells that secrete a specific antibody and a clone of memory cells that make the antibody on subsequent encounters.

  2. Also called beta cell.  a cell in the islet of Langerhans that produces and secretes insulin.


B-cell British  

noun

  1. another name for B-lymphocyte

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

B cell Scientific  
  1. Any of the lymphocytes that develop into plasma cells in the presence of a specific antigen. The plasma cells produce antibodies that attack or neutralize the antigen in what is called the humoral immune response. B cells mature in the bone marrow before being released into the blood.

  2. Also called B lymphocyte

  3. Compare T cell


B-cell Cultural  
  1. One of two main types of immune system lymphocytes (compare T-cell). B-cells originate and develop in the bone marrow and circulate throughout the blood and lymph fluids, recognizing foreign bacteria, viruses, and toxins and binding to them to facilitate their disposal by other cells.


Etymology

Origin of B cell

1970–75; B cell ( def. 1 ) perhaps B(one-derived) ; B cell ( def. 2 ) B(ursa of Langerhans-derived)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

However, when this B cell metabolism is over-active, as it is in MS, the signaling results in abnormal myeloid as well as T cell responses which have been implicated in MS symptom flare-ups.

From Science Daily May 16, 2024

That would mean priming, shepherding, and polishing multiple B cell lineages.

From Science Magazine Mar. 1, 2024

In a 2022 Science paper, Schief and colleagues reported that 97% of the 36 people who received the vaccine developed the B cell antibody gene mutations needed to progress toward becoming broadly neutralizing.

From Science Magazine Mar. 1, 2024

This makes CD20 an attractive target for monoclonal antibody therapies which have been used to treat a variety of B-cell lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B cell lymphomas and high-grade B-cell lymphomas.

From Science Daily Nov. 16, 2023

A cell whose resistance becomes greater as the battery power becomes greater, and vice versa, I call an "L B cell" signifying Like the Battery power.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885 by Various

Strong results for a drug combination including Epkinly as a second-line treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma support confidence in its potential to move to the first line of therapy, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 1, 2026

It will be available to patients over the age of 26 whose B-cell ALL has not responded to treatment or has returned at several centres in England, including Cambridge, Newcastle, Sheffield, Plymouth and London.

From BBC Jan. 13, 2026

"The new findings open avenues to tailoring therapies, as the abnormal amount and activity of the B-cell receptor can be targeted pharmacologically. However, more research is still needed," Meriranta notes.

From Science Daily Jun. 18, 2024

Researchers from the University of Helsinki and HUS investigated the effects of recurring mutations in the KLHL6 gene in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common cancer of the lymphatic system.

From Science Daily Jun. 18, 2024

The recipient, Mr Neander, a grandfather-of-three in his early 60s, had previously been diagnosed with a blood cancer known as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

From BBC May 6, 2024

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