B cells, or B lymphocytes, play an important role in the adaptive immune response. One of their main roles is to produce antibodies (Ab), also known as immunoglobulins (Igs). When the body faces an infection, B cell cells release protective antibodies to protect the body from pathogens and rogue cells. Over the past few decades, many methods have emerged for engineering B cells, such as lentiviral (LV), which is commonly used to deliver transgenes into B cells for random insertion into the genome. Another example is the recent precision genome editing strategy, which uses homologous directed repair (HDR) to knock out or deliver transgenes to specific locations in the genome of B cells.
Plasma B cells have the unique ability to secrete high levels of protein and have the potential to be used as protein-replacement-engineered cell therapies. Biologic antibody drugs are used to treat many diseases, including viruses, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and protein deficiencies.
