Lymphocytic

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Lymphocytic refers to a type of small white blood cell known as a lymphocyte. Lymphocytes are a crucial part of the immune system and play a significant role in the body's defense against disease. They are primarily involved in the immune response by recognizing antigens, producing antibodies, and destroying cells that could cause damage.

Types of Lymphocytes[edit | edit source]

There are three main types of lymphocytes: B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells.

  • B cells are responsible for producing antibodies that can bind to pathogens, neutralizing them or marking them for destruction by other immune cells.
  • T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity, which is the immune response that does not involve antibodies. T cells can be further divided into helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells.
  • Natural killer cells (NK cells) are a type of lymphocyte that can kill cells infected with viruses or cancer cells.

Lymphocytic Diseases[edit | edit source]

Several diseases are characterized by an abnormal increase or decrease in lymphocytes, including:

  • Lymphocytic leukemia, a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes.
  • Lymphocytosis, a condition characterized by an increased number of lymphocytes in the blood.
  • Lymphocytopenia, a condition characterized by a decreased number of lymphocytes in the blood.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Lymphocytic Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD