One of the body’s main defences against infection and foreign pathogens, how do these cells protect our bodies?
White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the body’s primary form of defence against disease. When the body is invaded by a pathogen of any kind, the white blood cells attack in a variety of ways; some produce antibodies, while others surround and ultimately devour the pathogens whole.
In total, there are five types of white blood cell (WBC), and each cell works in a different way to fight a variety of threats. These five cells sit in two groupings: the granulocytes and the agranulocytes. The groups are determined based on whether a cell has ‘granules’ in the cytoplasm. These granules are digestive enzymes that help break down pathogens. Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are all granulocytes, the enzymes in which also give them a distinct colouration which the agranulocytes do not have.
As the most common WBC, neutrophils make up between 55 and 70 per cent of the white blood cells in a normal healthy individual, with the other four types (eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes) making up the rest.
Neutrophils are the primary responders to infection, actively moving to the site of infection following a call from mast cells after a pathogen is initially discovered. They consume bacteria and fungus that has broken through the body’s barriers in a process called phagocytosis.
The remaining types of leukocyte release chemicals such as histamine, preparing the body for future infection, as well as attacking other causes of illness like parasites.
A faulty immune system
If the immune system stops working properly, we are at risk of becoming ill. However, another problem is if the immune system actually goes into overdrive and starts attacking the individual’s cells, mistaking them for pathogens. There are a large number of autoimmune ailments seen across the world, such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, lupus and some cases of arthritis, as well as a large number of diseases that are suspected to have autoimmune roots.
We can often treat these conditions with immunosuppressants, which deactivate elements of the immune system to stop the body attacking itself. However, there are drawbacks with this treatment as, if the person exposes themselves to another pathogen, they would not have the normal white blood cell response. Consequently, the individual is less likely to be able to fight normally low-risk infections and, depending on the pathogen, they can even be fatal.
Top questions about leukocytes
What is lymphocytes? These release antibodies as well as attack virus and tumour cells through three differing types of cell. As a group, they are some of the longest lived of the white blood cells with the memory cells surviving for years to allow the body to defend itself if repeat attacks occur.
What is eosinophils? Eosinophils are the white blood cells that primarily deal with parasitic infections. They also have a role in allergic reactions. They make up a fairly small percentage of the total white blood cells in our body – about 2.3 per cent.
What is basophils? Basophils are involved in allergic response via releasing histamine and heparin into the bloodstream. Their functions are not fully known and they only account for 0.4 per cent of the body’s white blood cells. Their granules appear blue when viewed under a microscope.
What is neutrophils? Neutrophils are the most common of the leukocytes. They have a short life span so need to be constantly produced by the bone marrow. Their granules appear pink and the cell has multi-lobed nuclei which make them easily differentiated from other types of white blood cell.
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