Final answer:
Antibodies are produced by B cells, specifically by plasma cells which are differentiated B cells. Macrophages, while an integral part of the immune system, do not produce antibodies but have phagocytic capabilities and can promote inflammation. Neutrophils are also part of the innate immune response but do not produce antibodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibodies are produced by B cells. More specifically, when B cells become activated by the presence of an antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells, which are the cells that actually secrete antibodies. This process is a part of the humoral immune response. Antibodies are key components of the adaptive immune system and are crucial for identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
Macrophages are indeed involved in the immune response, but they do not produce antibodies. Instead, they are phagocytic cells and can also produce chemicals that promote inflammation, playing a critical role in the innate immune response. Naïve B cells are the lymphocytes that, upon encountering a pathogen, differentiate into plasma cells and produce antibodies, a clear example of adaptive immunity in action.
Neutrophils, which are phagocytic white blood cells, contribute to the innate immune response by producing cytokines that assist other immune cells in recognizing and destroying pathogens.