What are B cells and their role in lymphoma?
B cells, also called B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in your immune system. Their main job is to produce antibodies that help your body recognize and fight off infections from germs like bacteria and viruses.
B cells develop in the bone Show Full Answer
What are B cells and their role in lymphoma?
B cells, also called B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in your immune system. Their main job is to produce antibodies that help your body recognize and fight off infections from germs like bacteria and viruses.
B cells develop in the bone marrow and then travel through your bloodstream and lymphatic system. They congregate in lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system to help protect your body from disease.
How B cells relate to lymphoma:
When genetic mutations develop in B cells, they can start to grow out of control and live longer than healthy cells. This abnormal growth leads to B-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
B-cell lymphomas are very common, accounting for about 85 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the U.S. Scientists have identified more than 70 different types of B-cell lymphoma, each with specific characteristics.
The most common type is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which makes up about one-third of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. Other significant types include follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL).
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