A type of lymphocyte that plays a major role in the body's humoral immune response. When stimulated by a particular foreign antigen, these lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells that synthesize the antibodies that circulate in the blood and react with the specific antigens. Also called B lymphocyte.

[b(ursa-dependent) cell.]

Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.

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