White blood cells are an important part of the immune system in the human body responsible for protecting the body from infection and invasion of foreign organisms. Read the article after this one to find out more about how white blood cells work.
Leukocytes, also known as white blood cells, move around in the blood. Since they are a component of your immune system, they are in charge of defending your body against infections. What specifically do white blood cells do? Learn about it in the following lines:
The function of white blood cells according to their type
White blood cells are an important part of the body's immune system response, as there are different types of white blood cells, and each one is characterized by a specific function in the body. According to their type, white blood cells have the following functions:
- neutrophils
When bacteria or viruses invade, neutral cells are the first to react. As the first immune system cells to react, they send signals instructing other immune system cells to travel to the infection site.
Since the human body produces about 100 billion of these neutrophils daily, or about half of all white blood cells, it is notable that they are the primary pus-producing cells and that, once released from the bone marrow, they only survive for eight hours.
- acid cells
This kind of cell is crucial in the fight against bacteria, particularly parasitic infections like worms.
Acidic cells are characterised by their efforts to elicit allergy symptoms but may mistakenly believe that an immune response is being elicited against something benign, such as the immune response to pollen.
In the bloodstream, eosinophils make up about 5% of the white blood cells, but the digestive system contains large numbers of them.
- basal cells
Even though basophils only make up about 1% of white blood cells, they are crucial for mounting a non-specific immune response to pathogens and other disease-causing organisms.
Basophils are distinguished by their role and response in asthma because, upon stimulation, they release histamines that can cause inflammation and airway narrowing.
- lymphocytes
Additionally crucial to the immune system are lymphocytes, which serve specialised functions as opposed to other white blood cells whose function is to provide general immunity.
It is split into two categories, specifically:
1. B lymphocytes
As they work to create antibodies that remember the pathogen so they are prepared in the event your body is exposed to that pathogen again, B cells are in charge of the immune response that includes antibodies.
Additionally, B lymphocytes are essential for the effectiveness of many modern vaccines, including those for whooping cough and tuberculosis.
2. T lymphocytes
T cells are in charge of directly killing foreign invaders that they specifically identify. Memory T cells also remember infections after infection, and respond quickly if they are seen again.
- monocytes
Monocytes make up about 5% to 12% of the white blood cells in the bloodstream, and their most important function is to clean up dead cells in the body.
Conditions affecting white blood cells
After understanding how white blood cells work, it is important to recognise some conditions that may impact both the quantity and nature of white blood cells. These conditions include:
- Aplastic anemia
In this instance, the bone marrow's stem cells—which are in charge of producing new white blood cells—are destroyed by the body.
- Evans Syndrome
It is an autoimmune disorder in which healthy cells, including red and white blood cells, are obliterated by the immune system.
- HIV
HIV can lower the number of CD4 T cells, which are white blood cells.
- blood cancer
White blood cells that produce too quickly and are unable to fight infections cause leukaemia.
- Primary myelofibrosis
The bone marrow of the patient becomes scarred as a result of this condition, which also causes the body to overproduce some blood cell types.
Ways to take care of white blood cells
The following activities will help you take care of your white blood cells:
- Practice good hygiene to prevent infection.
- Take vitamins to strengthen the immune system.
- Treating medical conditions that cause white blood cell disorders.