What type of cells are primarily responsible for antibody production?

B lymphocytes, or B cells, are the primary cells responsible for the production of antibodies in the immune system. When activated by an antigen (a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign), B cells undergo a process of clonal expansion and differentiation. This leads to the formation of plasma cells, which are specialized B cells that produce and secrete large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies are crucial for identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

In contrast, T lymphocytes, which include helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells, play a vital role in the regulation of immune responses and directly attacking infected or cancerous cells, but they do not produce antibodies. Macrophages are involved in phagocytosis and act as antigen-presenting cells, while dendritic cells specialize in capturing antigens and presenting them to T cells, thus initiating a robust adaptive immune response. However, it is the B lymphocytes that are specifically tasked with antibody generation, making them the correct answer to the question.