Why are monocytes needed and how many should be normal?
Miscellaneous / / August 07, 2021
Without these cells, a person would not have been able to cope with the mildest infection.
What are monocytes
MonocytesMonocyte Disorders / МSD Manual - This is a type of white blood cells (leukocytes), with the help of which human immunity resists various infections and other diseases.
Like all leukocytes, monocytes are produced in the bone marrow and from there are sent to the bloodstream. But then something unusual happens to them, which determines the main function of these blood cells.
Why do you need monocytes
After wandering in the blood for several hours, young monocytes penetrate into various organs and tissues of the body. For example, in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow tissue. This is where these white blood cells ripenKarlin Karlmark, F. Tacke, and I. Dunay. Monocytes in health and disease - Minireview / European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology into macrophages.
MacrophagesMacrophages / British Society for Immunology Are the main scavenger cells of the immune system. They prey on pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, capture and devour foreign bodies (this process is called phagocytosis). They also destroy dead or damaged cells, for example, by a virus or cancer, cells of their own body. Also macrophages produce
cytokines - proteins that enhance the inflammatory response, with which the body fights viruses or bacteria.However, the functions of macrophages are much broader and more diverse. They also depend on the body where they actMacrophages | British Society for Immunology these cells. For example:
- In the lungs. Macrophages live in the alveoli and are engaged in the destruction of the smallest debris that entered the organ with inhalation. In addition, these cells are involved in the formation of immunity to various respiratory viruses, fungi, bacteria.
- In the central nervous system. Macrophages destroy dead or old neurons and control the immune system in the brain.
- In the spleen. Eliminate old or defective red blood cells (red blood cells).
From the point of view of science, macrophages and their precursors monocytes are the most important element of congenital immunity. That is, that "pre-installed" protective system with which we are born.
At the same time, they play a significant role in the creation of acquired immunity. For example, it is known that macrophages help T-lymphocytes to quickly recognize the already familiar pathogens of various infections and, as a result, accelerate the immune responseAngel A. Justiz Vaillant, Sarah Sabir, Arif Jan. Physiology, Immune Response / Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. for infection.
How exactly all this works, scientists still have not figured outKarlin Karlmark, F. Tacke, and I. Dunay. Monocytes in health and disease - Minireview / European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology. But it is already clear that without monocytes, we would not be able to resist even the weakest infection. What is there - even dust that accidentally got into the lungs.
What is the norm of monocytes in the blood
The number of monocytes is determined when general blood test.
In a healthy person, monocytes areLyrad K. Riley, Jedda Rupert. Evaluation of Patients with Leukocytosis / American Family Physician 2-8% of the total number of leukocytes.
Translated into absolute numbers, we are talking about 200-600Monocyte Disorders / МSD Manual monocytes per microliter of blood. Or about 0.2-0.6 × 10 9 per liter.
When the number of monocytes rises or falls, this indicates that something is happening to the person's immune system.
Why are monocytes elevated
A high level of monocytes is called monocytosis. This condition may indicateMonocyte Disorders / МSD Manual on the:
- the presence in the body of some kind of chronic infection;
- chronic inflammatory diseases - for exampleAlyce Anderson, Cynthia Cherfane, Benjamin Click, at al. Monocytosis Is a Biomarker of Severity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Analysis of a 6 ‑ Year Prospective Natural History Registry / Inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease;
- autoimmune disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. With such failures, macrophages begin to mistakenly hunt for healthy cells in their own body. Since there are many healthy cells, the number of monocytes increases;
- various blood diseases;
- some types of cancer.
Why are monocytes low
If monocytes are less than normal, doctors talk about a condition called monocytopenia. Its cause is some factor due to which the number of leukocytes in general drops sharply. It mayMonocyte Disorders / МSD Manual to be:
- blood poisoning;
- diseases that suppress a person's immune system. For example, AIDS;
- various diseases of the bone marrow, due to which the production of white blood cells decreases;
- chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments can damage the bone marrow.
What to do if your monocyte count is above or below normal
First of all, don't be nervous. A decrease or increase in the level of monocytes in itself is not dangerous. Perhaps this is generally a random temporary phenomenon.
Only a professional doctor can figure it out - the one who issued you a referral for a general blood test. The health care provider will evaluate other blood counts from the same test and relate them to your well-being, complaints, and symptoms. Perhaps he will offer to retake the analysis or undergo additional research. And only after that the preliminary diagnosis will be announced. Or, on the contrary, he will inform you that everything is in order with you - this is also completely possible.
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Author and editor of articles on health, psychology, sexology. I have been working in medical journalism for over 15 years. I rely on the principles of docmed, love and know how to search and analyze relevant research in world scientific journals. I try to write about the most complex diseases in a simple and accessible way. I believe that understanding the mechanism of the development of the disease means taking the first step towards recovery.
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