Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) are proteins produced by which type of cells?

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are specifically produced by B cells, which are a type of white blood cell integral to the adaptive immune response. When B cells encounter an antigen, they can differentiate into plasma cells that synthesize and secrete large volumes of antibodies. These antibodies bind to antigens on pathogens, facilitating their neutralization and marking them for destruction by other immune cells.

B cells play a critical role in the humoral immune response, which is responsible for targeting pathogens that are present outside of cells, such as bacteria and viruses. This ability to produce antibodies is a distinctive feature of B cells and is essential for the body's defense against infections. The production of antibodies is crucial not only for immediate defense but also for the development of immunological memory, which helps the body respond more effectively upon subsequent exposures to the same pathogens.

In contrast, T cells are primarily involved in the cell-mediated immune response and do not produce antibodies; macrophages act as phagocytic cells that engulf and digest pathogens but do not produce antibodies; and neutrophils are the first responders to sites of infection, primarily engaging in the destruction of pathogens through phagocytosis and the release of enzymes, rather than antibody production.