Chapter 73: The Structure of Lymphocytes and Plasma Cells

SUMMARY

Lymphocytes are a heterogeneous population of blood cells that can be distinguished from other leukocytes by their characteristic morphology and structural features.^* Mature lymphocytes can be divided into several functional types and subtypes based on their organs of development and function. The major classes of lymphocytes include T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. T lymphocytes develop in the thymus (Chaps. 6, 74, and 76) and are exported to the blood and lymphoid organs. They are responsible for cell-mediated cytotoxic reactions and for delayed hypersensitivity responses (Chap. 76). T lymphocytes also produce the cytokines that regulate immune responses and provide helper activity for B cells. B lymphocytes can capture, internalize, and present antigens to T cells and are the precursors of immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells (Chap. 75). NK cells account for innate immunity against infectious agents and transformed cells that have altered expression of transplantation antigens (Chap. 77). Blood T and B lymphocytes are indistinguishable by light and electron microscopy. NK cells tend to be larger cells with relatively large granules scattered in their cytoplasm. B cells can mature into plasma cells upon activation by engagement with antigen or with certain B cell mitogens. Although the different lymphocyte subpopulations appear similar by morphology they have distinct surface and intracellular protein expression patterns. These subpopulations, as defined by antigen expression, reflect different functional subsets, maturation stages, and activation stages. This chapter describes the light and transmission electron microscopic structures of lymphocytes and plasma cells and the major structural features reflected by surface antigens that are characteristic of each lymphocyte type. The chapter also provides information on biophysical and biochemical features of human lymphocytes.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADAM, a disintegrin and a metalloprotease; BTK, Bruton tyrosine kinase; CD, cluster of differentiation; Ig, immunoglobulin; lck, leukocyte tyrosine kinase; LGL, large granular lymphocyte; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; NK, natural killer; TCR, T-cell receptor; TdT, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; T_FH, follicular helper T cells; Th, T helper cells; T_REG, T-regulatory cell; ZAP-70, zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa.