Introduction to Leukocytes

Leukocyte (referred to as: WBC). A group of cells in the blood. Leukocytes are divided into neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes. The first three because of its cytoplasm containing color particles, so called granulocytes. Under the microscope can be seen, the volume of blood cells is relatively large, the number is relatively small. With nucleus. Its main role is to swallow bacteria, defense disease.

Leukocyte are the body and the fight against the disease, "guard." When the bacteria invade the human body, the leukocyte through the deformation through the capillary wall, concentrated to the site of invasion of bacteria, the bacteria surrounded by、swallowed. If the number of leukocyte in the body is higher than normal, it is likely that the body with inflammation.

Normal neutrophils accounted for 50% to 70% of neutrophils, 0.5% to 5% of eosinophils, and basophils accounted for 0% to 10% of normal leukocyte (4.0-10.0) 1%, mononuclear cells accounted for 3% to 8%, lymphocytes accounted for 20% to 40%.

The main types of leukocyte

There are five leukocyte, according to the volume from small to large are: lymphocytes, basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes.

Leukocyte are colorless nucleated blood cells, generally spherical in the blood, according to the morphological differences can be divided into two categories of particles and no particles.

Granular leukocyte:

Granulocyte leukocytes (granulocytes) containing special staining particles, with Wright staining can distinguish three kinds of granulocyte leukocyte that neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.

Neutrophils with deformation movement and phagocytic activity of the ability of the body against invasive bacteria, especially acute pyogenic bacteria, the most important defense system. When the neutrophil count was significantly reduced, the chance of infection was significantly increased. Eosinophils with coarse eosinophilic granules, particles containing peroxidase and acid phosphatase. Eosinophils have chemotaxis, can swallow antigen-antibody complexes, reduce its damage to the body, and can fight histamine and other inflammatory factors. Basophils in basophilic granules, containing histamine, heparin and 5 - hydroxytryptamine and other bioactive substances in the antigen - antibody reaction when released.

In the normal human stool can occasionally see a little leukocyte, so the number of leukocyte in the stool examination can be used as a basis for intestinal inflammation,

Grain free leukocyte:

Grain-free leukocyte have no cytoplasmic granules, but have rounded nuclei, including monocytes and lymphocytes.

Monocytes are the largest blood cells in the blood. Now that it is the predecessor of macrophages, with significant deformation movement, can swallow, remove injured, aging cells and debris. Monocytes are also involved in immune response, in the phagocytic antigens will be carried after the antigenic epithelium to lymphocytes, lymphocytes to induce a specific immune response. Monocytes are also a major cellular defense system against intracellular pathogenic bacteria and parasites, and have the ability to recognize and kill tumor cells. Lymphocytes were compared with the specific immune function of cells. T lymphocytes are mainly involved in cellular immune response and B lymphocytes involved in humoral immune response.

The number of leukocyte per adult is 5000-9000 units per cubic millimeter, of which neutrophils account for 0.50-0.70, eosinophils are 0.005-0.05, basophils are 0.005-0.01, mononuclear cells are 0.03-0.08, Lymphocytes accounted for 0.20 ~ 0.40. Leukocyte in young children than adults. Different physiological states (such as pregnancy) can cause changes in the number of leukocyte. Inflammation, the blood white blood cell count increased significantly. Various types of leukocyte have different protective effects.

The role of leukocyte

Leukocytes can engulf foreign bodies, plasma cells produce antibodies, in the body damage cure, resistance to pathogen invasion and disease immune plays an important role.

Inflammation of the body or other diseases can cause the total number of leukocyte and a variety of white blood cell percentage changes, so check the total number of leukocyte and white blood cell count as an auxiliary diagnosis of an important method.

Leukocyte are a large family of blood cells, their morphological structure and physiological functions are diverse, but they are not isolated from each other in the body's protection, immune and wound healing process play a synergistic effect. Although they are a class of cell components in the blood, but their function to play, more reflected in the circulatory organs outside the pipeline. In function, they are closely related to many cellular components in these organs and tissues, such as macrophages, mast cells, fibroblasts and so on.

Symptoms of Leukocyte’s reduction

Leukocytes are a class of nucleated blood cells. Normal blood cell count is 4000-10000 / μL (μL), the different time of day and different functional status of the body, the number of leukocyte in the blood is a wide range of changes. When more than 10,000 per microliter, known as leukocytosis; and less than 4000 per microliter, it is called leukopenia. The body has inflammation (ie inflammation) occurs when the white blood cell increase; leukopenia may have hereditary, Familial, acquired and so on. Which acquired the majority. Drugs, radiation, infection, toxins, etc. can make neutropenia, drug-induced by the most common. Avoid medication is to avoid because of drugs and the resulting white blood cell reduction.

Leukopenia, is the peripheral white blood cell count continued to decline caused by a group of symptoms. Typical manifestations of dizziness, fatigue, limb weakness, loss of appetite, apathetic, low heat, is the motherland medicine "Consumption" category. Chinese medicine treatment of leukopenia with Yiqi Yangxue, Bushenyijing, spleen Yangwei various methods.

WBC generally less reason; virus infection, typhoid, etc., but also because of drug-induced. Such as drug-induced neutropenia, should be immediately discontinued, the appropriate application of raw white drugs, such as colony-stimulating factor (CsF), lithium carbonate, madder diester, multi-anti-A and so on. Stop contact with radiation or other chemical poisons. Caused by the spleen hyperthyroidism, prone to repeated, severe infection, splenectomy can be done.

How to treat?

1. should first find out the cause of neutropenia, according to the cause of choice of appropriate treatment. As a result of drug-induced, should be immediately discontinued.

2. WBC production of drugs more types of clinical applications, but the effect is difficult to determine. Such as vitamin B6, reserpine can be used for a variety of granulocytopenia, due to vitamin B4, shark alcohol, inosine, deoxynucleotides, stanozolol and other anti-cancer drugs, radiotherapy or chloramphenicol and other factors Leukopenia has a good effect. In the cause of treatment at the same time, these drugs can choose one of 1-2 species, taking 4-6 weeks to observe whether the effect of white blood cell recovery, do not think that the more drugs the better, while the use of several drugs.

3. Adrenal cortical hormone can promote the release of bone marrow cells into the peripheral blood circulation, when the granulocyte reduction is due to immune factors, such as systemic lupus erythematosus caused by a better and lasting effect.