Final answer:
Several classes of plasma proteins, including antibodies, limit the spread of infection by binding to antigens, tagging pathogens, and activating complement systems. Albumin, the most abundant plasma protein, helps maintain blood volume and pressure. Plasma is the liquid component of blood carrying cells and various proteins, not just lipids and antibodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. Several classes of plasma proteins limit the spread of infection by various mechanisms, such as antigen binding, tagging pathogens, and activating the complement cascade.
Plasma proteins play a critical role in the body's immune response. One major plasma protein is albumin, which is indeed the most abundant plasma protein and is synthesized in the liver. Albumin helps to maintain oncotic pressure, drawing water into the blood vessels from the surrounding tissue, which is contrary to option (a) that incorrectly states it draws water out of blood vessels. Moreover, antibodies are a different class of plasma proteins produced by plasma B cells, not by specialized leukocytes called plasma cells as stated in option (c). These antibodies are crucial for the immune system, as they can prevent antigens from binding to targets, tag pathogens for destruction, and activate the complement system, as depicted in Figures 33.24 and 42.24.
Furthermore, plasma is not solely a protein or a liquid containing only lipids and antibodies; it is the liquid component of blood that carries cells and proteins throughout the body. Finally, during inflammation, blood cells, particularly white blood cells, move towards the site of infection to combat pathogens, which contradicts statement (b) about blood cells retreating during infection.