White Blood Cells- learn about the body's armamentarium

I always get asked what are basophils on my CBC and why is a one-time value of 0.1 flagged as abnormal?

I think not enough is talked about the different types of white blood cells and their function in the general media but they form the critical part of our immune system and are involved in fending off pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi), wound healing, fighting off cancer, allergens, creating immunological memory and so on. So, in this edition of #HematologySimplified, I want to go over the types of white blood cells we have and their basic functions.

A. Neutrophils

Neutrophils are the first-line of defense for us, they are the most abundant of the white blood cells and form about 55-70% of the total circulating white blood cells. Neutrophils contain fine granules that have oxidative enzymes that are capable of killing bacteria!

B. Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes regulate the immune response and are responsible for creating memory when we get an infection or a vaccine. They produce antibodies and if they have memory, can produce a LOT of antibodies very quickly to ward off infection

C. Monocytes

Monocytes help clean up the mess that neutrophils create. Their main function is to ‘eat things up’ i.e phagocytosis. They also have the ability to mount immune responses but their main job is to eat up bacteria, cell debris, viruses etc.

D. Eosinophils

Eosinophils are large cells with big pink granules. They are primarily involved in fighting parasitic infections and mediating allergic responses

D. Basophils

Basophils are large cells with big blue granules. Their function is similar to eosinophils above.

Together, they form a strong barrier in protecting our organs from pathogens, cancer, mounting allergic responses and helping with tissue repair.

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Disclaimer: The content in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Subscription to this newsletter does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult your physician with specific questions regarding your health

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