Histiocytes
Histiocytes are a type of immune cell that reside in many tissues throughout the human body. They are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system, a network of cells that play a crucial role in the body's defense against disease. Histiocytes are derived from monocytes, a type of white blood cell that circulates in the bloodstream.
Function[edit | edit source]
Histiocytes have several important functions in the body. They are primarily involved in the immune response, where they help to fight off infections and diseases. They do this by engulfing and digesting foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, a process known as phagocytosis. In addition to their role in immunity, histiocytes also play a role in tissue repair and inflammation.
Types of Histiocytes[edit | edit source]
There are several different types of histiocytes, each with their own specific functions. These include:
- Macrophages: These are the most common type of histiocyte. They are found in tissues throughout the body and are responsible for engulfing and digesting foreign substances.
- Dendritic cells: These histiocytes are found in the skin and mucous membranes. They are responsible for presenting antigens to T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response.
- Langerhans cells: These histiocytes are found in the skin and are involved in the immune response to skin infections.
Diseases Involving Histiocytes[edit | edit source]
There are several diseases that involve histiocytes, including:
- Histiocytosis: This is a group of diseases characterized by an overproduction of histiocytes. There are several types of histiocytosis, including Langerhans cell histiocytosis and non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: This is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by an overactive immune response. It is caused by an excessive number of histiocytes and T cells that attack the body's own tissues and organs.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This article is a cell biology stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
