Topic: White Blood Cells (WBC) and their Disorders

I. Overview
A. Vital part of the immune system
B. Protects body against infectious disease and foreign invaders
C. Derived from the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow
D. Only blood vessels having nuclei
E. Found in circulatory (lymphatic and blood) system
II. Categories:
A. By nuclear/cytoplasm structure
1. Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils), polymorphonuclear and
granulated cytoplasm
2. Agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes), mononuclear and nongranulated
cytoplasm
B. By hematopoietic lineage
1. Myeloid cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils)
2. Lymphoid cells (lymphocytes)
C. Types:
1. Neutrophils (phagocytic)
a. Target: bacteria, fungi
2. Eosinophils
a. Target: larger parasites
b. Modulate allergic inflammatory responses
3. Basophils
a. Rarest leukocyte
b. Defends against parasites
c. Release histamine and other substances to increase blood flow, causing
an inflammatory response.
4. Lymphocytes
a. B cells
i. Synthesize antibodies
ii. Helps activate T cells
b. T cells
i. T helper cells – helps activate B and T cells
ii. Cytotoxic T cells – targets virus-infected and tumor cells
iii. Gamma delta T cells – phagocytosis
iv. Regulatory (suppressor) T cell – prevents autoimmunity
c. Natural killer cells – targets virus-infected and tumor cells
5. Monocytes (phagocytic)
a. Circulate the bloodstream then eventually enters tissues and become
macrophages
III. Disorders
A. Leukopenia
1. Meaning: Underpopulation of leukocytes
2. Main Causes:
 a. Decreased production (e.g. marrow suppression by cancer)
b. Increased removal (e.g. bacterial infection, viral attacks like HIV,
chemotherapy, autoimmunity)
3. Effects (usually not easily noticed):
a. Increased risk to infection, whose symptoms are commonly fever, chills,
and sweating
b. Increased lethality of usually mild diseases
4. Treatments
a. Stopping cancer treatments
b. Growth factors
c. Immunocompromised (low-bacterial) diet
d. Infection preventive procedures
B. Leukocytosis
1. Meaning: Overpopulation of leukocytes
2. Main Causes:
a. Reaction to bacterial or viral infections
b. Immune system abnormalities (hypersensitivity, autoimmunity)
c. Neoplastic (cancer) disorder (e.g. leukemia, lymphoma)
3. Effects
a. Makes blood too thick that it can’t flow properly, causing vision and
breathing problems, bleeding in mucosal regions, and stroke
b. Increase in immunity activity such as fever, weight loss, itch and rashes,
and other allergic reactions
4. Treatments
a. Antibiotics for the infections
b. Antihistamines (for allergic reactions)
c. Cancer therapies (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
d. Removal of causes of stress/anxiety
C. Leukocyte dysfunction
1. Cause: Hyperplasia of the bone marrow (when the bone marrow needs to
replenish immediately the lost leukocytes, it rushes too much, causing the
following…)
2. Myelodysplasia (production of abnormal leukocytes)
a. Usually pre-leukemia
b. Benign
3. Neoplasia (useless, unregulated cancer cells)
a. Can become leukemia when leukocytes (i.e. in the bone marrow and
blood) become malignant
b. Can become lymphoma when lymphocytes (i.e. in the lymphatic
system, solid tissue) become malignant
4. Treatments
a. Cancer therapies
b. Transplants (e.g. bone marrow, stem cell)