Editing Plasma cell (section)

== Structure ==
[[File:Dutcher and Russell bodies.jpg|thumb|left|Plasma cells with [[Russell bodies|Dutcher and Russell bodies]] ([[H&E stain]], 100×, oil)]]

Plasma cells are large [[lymphocyte]]s with abundant [[cytoplasm]] and a characteristic appearance on [[light microscopy]]. They have [[basophilic]] cytoplasm and an eccentric nucleus with [[heterochromatin]] in a characteristic cartwheel or clock face arrangement. Their cytoplasm also contains a pale zone that on [[electron microscopy]] contains an extensive [[Golgi apparatus]] and [[centriole]]s. Abundant [[rough endoplasmic reticulum]] combined with a well-developed Golgi apparatus makes plasma cells well-suited for secreting immunoglobulins.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plasma Cell - LabCE.com, Laboratory Continuing Education |url=https://www.labce.com/spg448425_plasma_cell.aspx |website=www.labce.com |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> Other [[organelle]]s in a plasma cell include ribosomes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and the plasma membrane.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

===Surface antigens===
Terminally differentiated plasma cells express relatively few surface antigens, and do not express common pan-B cell markers, such as [[CD19]] and [[CD20]]. Instead, plasma cells are identified through [[flow cytometry]] by their additional expression of [[CD138]], [[CD78]], and the [[Interleukin-6 receptor]]. In humans, [[CD27]] is a good marker for plasma cells; naïve B cells are CD27−, memory B-cells are CD27+ and plasma cells are CD27++.<ref name=Bona>{{cite book | vauthors = Bona C, Bonilla FA, Soohoo M | title = Textbook of Immunology | edition = 2 | year = 1996 | publisher = CRC Press | isbn = 978-3-7186-0596-5 | chapter = 5 | page = 102 }}</ref>

The surface antigen [[CD138]] (syndecan-1) is expressed at high levels.<ref name="pmid18770841">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rawstron AC | title = Immunophenotyping of plasma cells | journal = Current Protocols in Cytometry | volume = Chapter 6 | pages = Unit6.23 | date = May 2006 | pmid = 18770841 | doi = 10.1002/0471142956.cy0623s36 | isbn = 0-471-14295-6 | series = Chapter | s2cid = 19511070 }}</ref>

Another important surface antigen is [[CD319]] (SLAMF7). This antigen is expressed at high levels on normal human plasma cells. It is also expressed on malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma. Compared with CD138, which disappears rapidly ex vivo, the expression of CD319 is considerably more stable.<ref name="pmid24385542">{{cite journal | vauthors = Frigyesi I, Adolfsson J, Ali M, Christophersen MK, Johnsson E, Turesson I, Gullberg U, Hansson M, Nilsson B | display-authors = 6 | title = Robust isolation of malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma | journal = Blood | volume = 123 | issue = 9 | pages = 1336–40 | date = February 2014 | pmid = 24385542 | doi = 10.1182/blood-2013-09-529800 | doi-access = free }}</ref>