B cells and T cells are the white blood cells of the system that are liable for adaptive immune reaction in an organism. Both the cells are made in the bone marrow. B cells mature in the bone marrow while the T cells travel to the thymus and mature there. These cells are structurally similar and are involved in adaptive immune reaction in an organism.
What are B cells?
These cells mature in the bone marrow and produce antibodies in response to the antigens. B cells are involved in humoral response. As soon as B cells encounter the antigens, they produce plasma cells and memory B cells.
What are T cells?
T cells originate within the bone marrow and mature within the thymus. These are often further divided into T helper cells and T cytotoxic cells. They are responsible for removing the pathogens from the body. As soon as the foreign antigen enters the cells, T cells trigger the B cells to develop plasma cells and activate T killer cells that kill the cells affected by the invaders.
Similarities Between B cells and T cells
Both B and T cells originate within the bone marrow.
These cells are involved in adaptive immunity.
They are a type of lymphocytes.
The cells are nucleated and motile.
Both protect the body’s immune system and help fight infections.
Both the cells are non-phagocytic and are a part of the lymphatic system.
Properties of B cells and T cells
Both B cells and T cells share these properties as mentioned -
They are integral membrane proteins.
They are present in many similar copies that are exposed at the cell surface.
They are prepared much before the cell even encounters an antigen.
They are encoded by genes that are assembled by a combination of segments of DNA.
They have a unique binding site.
This site binds to a some of the antigen called an antigenic determinant or epitope.
The binding, like that between an enzyme and its substrate depends on complementarity of the surface of the receptor and therefore the surface of the epitope.
The binding takes place by non-covalent forces (again, like an enzyme binding to its substrate).
Successful binding of the antigen receptor to the epitope, if amid additional signals, results in:
Stimulation of the cell to go away G0 and enter the cell cycle.
Repeated mitosis results in the event of the same cells bearing an equivalent antigen receptor; that's , an identical cell of the identical specificity.
FAQs on Difference Between B cells and T cells
1. What are B cells and T cells in our immune system?
B cells and T cells are types of white blood cells called lymphocytes that play a central role in adaptive immunity. B cells are responsible for producing antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses in the body's fluids. T cells directly attack infected cells or help coordinate the overall immune response.
2. What is the main functional difference between B cells and T cells?
The main functional difference lies in how they combat pathogens. B cells are key to humoral immunity; they identify antigens and produce antibodies that neutralise invaders circulating in the blood and lymph. T cells are central to cell-mediated immunity; they must have antigens presented to them by other cells before they can either destroy the infected cell directly or help activate other immune cells.
3. Where in the body are B cells and T cells made and where do they mature?
Both B cells and T cells originate from stem cells in the bone marrow. However, their maturation sites are different, which is a key distinction:
- B cells mature in the bone marrow.
- T cells travel from the bone marrow to the thymus gland to mature.
4. How do B cells and T cells work together to fight an infection?
They have a highly coordinated relationship. When an invader enters the body, an antigen-presenting cell (APC) shows the antigen to a Helper T cell. This activated Helper T cell then finds the correct B cell and stimulates it to multiply and transform into plasma cells, which produce a large number of antibodies. This teamwork ensures a powerful and specific immune attack.
5. What are the main types of T cells and what do they do?
T cells are generally divided into two main categories based on their function:
- Helper T cells (CD4+): These are the managers of the immune response. They activate B cells to make antibodies and Cytotoxic T cells to kill infected targets.
- Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+): Also known as "killer T cells," these cells find and destroy body cells that have been infected by viruses or have become cancerous.
6. Can T cells produce antibodies like B cells do?
No, T cells cannot produce antibodies. The production of antibodies is the exclusive and highly specialised function of B cells (specifically, their differentiated form called plasma cells). T cells focus on other roles, such as direct cell killing and immune system regulation.
7. Why are “memory” B and T cells so important for long-term immunity?
Memory B and T cells are crucial because they provide long-term protection. After an initial infection is cleared, a small population of these memory cells remains. If the same pathogen enters the body again, these cells "remember" it and launch a much faster and stronger immune response, often preventing you from feeling sick. This is the principle behind how vaccines work to protect us from diseases.
