What immune cells are primarily responsible for antibody production?

B cells are the immune cells that are primarily responsible for antibody production. When activated by the presence of an antigen, B cells undergo a process of clonal expansion and differentiation, leading to the formation of plasma cells. These plasma cells then secrete large quantities of antibodies, which are specific to the antigen that triggered their activation. This ability to produce antibodies is essential for the adaptive immune response, as antibodies help neutralize pathogens, mark them for destruction, and facilitate their elimination by other immune cells.

In contrast, T cells play a crucial role in cell-mediated immunity and do not directly produce antibodies, although they help activate B cells. Macrophages are important for phagocytosing pathogens and presenting antigens to T cells but do not produce antibodies. Dendritic cells serve as antigen-presenting cells, initiating the immune response by displaying antigens to T cells, thereby acting as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems but also do not produce antibodies.