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Monocytes

Monocytes are one of the largest types of white blood cells. Each type of white blood cell has a unique role. Monocytes are responsible for attacking and breaking down germs and bacteria that enter the body...

Once they are a few hours old, monocytes travel through the bloodstream to organs and tissues such as the liver, lungs, spleen and bone marrow. When they get there, they stick onto the tissue and turn into a different type of cell: a macrophage. These cells behave similarly to monocytes, but stay still on organs or tissues. They remove dead tissue, can kill cancer cells, and regulate the body’s immunity against foreign substances.

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Articles of Interest

Monocytes Definition

Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cells that act as a defender in the immune system by destructing or damaging the invading pathogen (viruses, bacteria, and fungi). Monocytes produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase, and inflammatory cytokines to kill pathogens.

Morphological evaluation of monocytes and their precursors

The major and dominant role of the cells of the monocytic-macrophage lineage in the defence of the human organism has never been questioned. However, the identification of cells of this lineage has raised problems as attested by the variety of names used to designate monocytes and their precursors. One of the questions which arises is whether the lineage can be defined by a unique and recognizable marker (on the membrane, the cytoplasm or the nucleus). At the present time, immunology is still imperfect in identifying cells of this lineage, and precise morphological definitions are therefore required to provide the basis for clinical studies.

Some Monocytes Got Rhythm

The molecular mechanisms that control leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation have been a major focus of immunologists over the past 25 years.

The phagocytes: neutrophils and monocytes

The production and deployment of phagocytes are central functions of the hematopoietic system. In the 1950s, radioisotopic studies demonstrated the high prodution rate and short lifespan of neutrophils and allowed researchers to follow the monocytes as they moved from the marrow through the blood to become tissue macrophages, histiocytes, and dendritic cells.

What are Monocytes?

Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cell in the human body and can differentiate into one of two different cells. Monocytes are produced in the bone marrow and are part of the immune system where they work to kill micro-organisms which harm the body.

Resources

StatPearls

Monocytes are a crucial component of the innate immune system. A monocyte is a type of white blood cell that differentiates into populations of macrophages and dendritic cells to regulate cellular homeostasis, especially in the setting of infection and inflammation. Monocytes have two distinct roles; they regularly patrol the body for microbial cells and orchestrate an immune response in times of infection and inflammation. Monocytes have toll-like receptors on their surfaces that interact with PAMPS (pathogen-associated molecular patterns) found on invading microbial cells. In response to such stimuli, monocytes migrate from the bone marrow into the blood circulation and infiltrate tissues within 12 to 24 hours.

The Human Protein Atlas

Monocytes are the largest type of leukocyte and are involved in immune responses to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They can differentiate both into macrophages that can penetrate into tissues and perform defense functions, or into myeloid lineage dendritic cells to effect an immune response. There are at least three subclasses of monocytes in human blood based on their phenotypic receptors.

The Jung Lab

Monocytes are mononuclear phagocytes that circulate in the blood and comprise two major subsets. One monocyte population seems dedicated to patrol the inner vessel wall and surveille it for integrity. A second subset, defined as CD14+ cells and Ly6C+ cells in man and mouse respectively, is highly dynamic and short-lived. These cells can be recruited to sites of inflammation and injury where they give rise to monocyte-derived DC and macrophages.