Final answer:
B cells are made and mature in the bone marrow, having over 100 trillion different potential antibodies on their surfaces. They are part of the adaptive immune system and are responsible for producing antibodies, with IgM being the primary class expressed on naive B cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the stars of your immune system, the B cells are made in your bone marrow and mature there. These cells have at least 100 trillion different antibodies on its surface, known as membrane-bound antibodies. B cells are a crucial part of the adaptive immune system and differentiate in the bone marrow. As part of their development, B cells can generate a vast diversity of antigen receptors, similar to T cells, with the potential of up to 100 trillion different clones of B cells.
These lymphocytes are responsible for producing antibodies, the proteins that specifically bind to antigens, which are pathogen-associated molecules. B cells express membrane-bound immunoglobulins (Ig), primarily of the IgM class and sometimes IgD, which serve as antigen receptors. Upon activation, B cells can differentiate into plasma cells, which then secrete a soluble form of these immunoglobulins. IgM, which is secreted first during an adaptive immune response, can bind to ten identical antigens due to its pentamer structure.
These immune cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells in the red bone marrow and constitute a substantial fraction of the body's lymphocytes, which patrol the body in search of pathogens. B cells mature within the bone marrow, allowing them to play a vital role in the body's defense mechanism as part of the adaptive immune response.