B cells die old and have a very long memory. These long-lived immune cells called memory B cells “remember” past infections by producing antibodies specific to a particular pathogen. In this way, our immune systems can mount a protective response when it is exposed to the same invader.
The longevity of these cells has intrigued researchers. In a study published in the journal Nature, NIAID and NHLBI scientists found that the timing of chemical signals is key to keeping B cells from self-destructing.