Monocytes Flashcards
Size of monocytes?
16-20µm
how long do monocytes circulate in the blood?
they circulate in the blood for 1 day
what happens when monocytes enter target tissue?
they differentiate to become macrophages
what shape is a monocytes nucleus
it is a kidney bean shape
what do monocytes look like when stained?
they look like you are looking through frosted glass
what do monocytes respond to? (FUNCTION)
- necrotic tissue
- microorganisms
- inflammation
and things of this nature
what are macrophages? (FEATURE and NATURE)
macrophages are aggressive phagocytic cells that try to engulf things as large or larger than themselves
what is an antigen?
a molecule that is recognised by and elicits a response by the immune system
what do macrophages do? (FUNCTION)
Macrophages:
- release cytokines (inflammatory mediators) to attract other cells
- present antigens on their surface to lymphocytes after engulfing a microorganism
what are the main functions of dendritic cells?
- Antigen presentation
- T cell stimulation
what happens to dendritic cells when they become activated?
they gain branched projections called dendrites when activated
what might a high count of monocytes indicate?
- Viral infection
- fungal infection
- tuberculosis
- some leukaemia
what might a low count of monocytes indicate?
- Bone marrow suppression
- cortisol treatment
