The cellular biology of plasma cells: Unmet challenges and opportunities

Amélie Bonaud; Mélanie Khamyath; Marion Espéli

doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2023.01.005

The cellular biology of plasma cells: Unmet challenges and opportunities

Immunol Lett. 2023 Feb:254:6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.01.005. Epub 2023 Jan 13.

Authors

Amélie Bonaud¹, Mélanie Khamyath¹, Marion Espéli²

Affiliations

¹ Université Paris-Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, INSERM U1160, Paris, F-75010, France; OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
² Université Paris-Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, INSERM U1160, Paris, F-75010, France; OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. Electronic address: marion.espeli@inserm.fr.

PMID: 36646289
DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.01.005

Abstract

Plasma cells and the antibodies they secrete are paramount for protection against infection but can also be implicated in diseases including autoantibody-mediated disease and multiple myeloma. Plasma cell terminal differentiation relies on a transcriptional switch and on important morphological changes. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are partly understood and how plasma cells manage to survive for long periods of time while secreting large quantities of antibodies remains unclear. In this review we aim to put in perspective what is known about plasma cell cellular biology to highlight the challenges faced by this field of research but also to illustrate how new opportunities may arise from the study of the fundamental mechanisms sustaining plasma cell survival and function.

Keywords: Antibodies; Endoplasmic reticulum; Plasma cells; Unfolded protein response.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies
Cell Survival
Humans
Multiple Myeloma*
Plasma Cells*
Unfolded Protein Response

Substances

Antibodies