1

WHITE BLOOD CELLS

Diana May B. Laraya, MD
2 Discussion

I. White Blood cells

II. Functions of WBC
III. White Blood cell types
IV.Functions of each WBC types
V. Leukopoiesis
VI.Biomedical Importance
VII.Diseases
3 "white blood cell"

derives from the physical

appearance of a blood sample
after centrifugation
typically white layer of
nucleated cells between the
sedimented red blood
cells and the blood plasma
4
5 Count: 4000-11,000/mm3
Types:
 Granulocytes Agranulocytes
6 Cytoplasm
Contains granules Does not contain granules

Classification
Basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils Lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes

% of leukocytes
65 35

Involved in
Innate immunity Adaptive immunity

Also known as
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes Mononuclear leukocytes

Originates from
Bone marrow Lymphoid

Lobes in Nucleus
2-5 1
7

White blood cell types

LEUKOCYTES
8 Discussion

I. White Blood cells

II. Functions of WBC
III. White Blood cell types
IV.Functions of each WBC types
V. Leukopoiesis
VI.Biomedical Importance
VII.Diseases
9 NEUTROPHILS
Count: 60-70%
 Diameter: 10-12m

 Cytoplasm: contains small granules stained with both acidic and

basic dyes

 Nucleus: variable shape (polymorphonuclear) and consist of 2-5

lobes connected by chromatin filaments

 cell membrane: receptors of IgG and complement (C3b)

10 FUNCTIONS OF NEUTROPHILS

 Neutrophils are the first line defense against infection

 When infection occurs, large number of neutrophils invade the infected area,
then phagocytose & destroy the organism

 Mechanism:

1- Margination: is sticking of the neutrophils to the capillary wall

2- Diapedesis : the neutrophils squeeze themselves through the capillary pores

(1&2) mediated by integrins & selectin

3- Ameboid movement : movement of neutrophils to reach the site of infection

11 FUNCTIONS OF NEUTROPHILS

4- Chemotaxis: the neutrophils are chemically attracted to the site

of infection by a group of substances called chemotactic factors
which include :
a)The bacterial toxins

b)The products of tissue destruction

c)Component factor C5a

d)Leukotrienes

 Mediated by G-protein coupled receptors

12 G-proteins

 activate phospholipase C
13

Chemokines
 small, generally 6 to 10 kDa, proteins
 secreted by activated white blood cells
 attract additional leukocytes to a site of infection
or injury
1. Type C : presence of a pair of conserved cysteine
residues that form an intrachain disulfide bond
2. Type CC: one additional cysteine residues lies
adjacent to the first of the first pair of universally
conserved residues
3. Type CXC: separated by one and three intervening
amino acid residues
4. Type CX3 C: largest of the four & have a longer C-
terminus that includes sites of covalent modification by
glycosylation
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15 FUNCTIONS OF NEUTROPHILS

5. Phagocytosis: - Once the neutrophils reached the site of

infection they ingest the bacteria by endocytosis

- facilitated by antibodies & C3 component of the complement

- Neutrophils phagocytose up to 20 organism then die

16 FUNCTIONS OF NEUTROPHILS

1)They adhere to the bacterial membrane, then C3 binds to specific receptors

on the neutrophil membrane initiating phagocytosis→ opsonization

2)Then the neutrophils project their pseudopodia to phagocytose the

organism, which forms phagocytic vesicle

3) The organism inside the phagocytic vesicle is then killed by:

1) the lysosomal proteolytic enzymes

2) bactericidal agents formed inside the neutrophil as:

a - oxidizing agents as hydrogen peroxide & hydroxyl ions

b- hypochlorite that results from the reaction between H2O2 & chloride
17
18 EOSINOPHILS
COUNT: 1 – 5 % of TLC

 Structure: – Diameter: 10 – 12 µm
 Cytoplasm:
• contain coarse granules stained RED with acidic dye (so called eosinophils)

 Nucleus:
• Consist of 2 lobes bilobed
 Cell membrane:
• contain receptors for Ig E and Ig G, Ig M and complement
19 Functions of eosinophils
1. They are weak phagocytes

2. Protect the body against parasitic infection e.g schistosomiasis:

• They migrate to the infected area & kill the juvenile forms of the organism by:

a) Hydrolytic enzymes

b) Larvicidal polypeptides called major basic proteins

c) Highly reactive forms of oxygen

3. Prevent spread of the inflammation resulting from allergic reaction by:

a) Phagocytose the antigen- antibody complex

b) Detoxify the inflammation producing substances released from mast cells

and basophils
20 BASOPHILS
COUNT: 0.5 – 1 % of TLC

 Structure: – Diameter: 8 – 10 µm

 Cytoplasm: contain coarse granules stained BLUE with

basic dye (so called basophils)

 Nucleus: segmented of 2 – 3 lobes

 Cell membrane: contain receptors for Ig E

21 Functions of basophils
1. Synthesize & liberate heparin into circulation to prevent
blood coagulation
2. Role in allergy:
– Ig E antigen- antibody reaction leading to their
degranulation & release of:
• histamine
• bradykinin
• serotonin
• slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis
• a number of lysosomal enzymes
3. Share in inflammatory reactions
22 NON-GRANULAR LEUKOCYTES
23 Function of non-granular leukocytes
 a) Function of lymphocytes:

• The lymphocytes represent the immune system

 b) Function of monocytes:

• Monocytes enter the blood then circulate for 72 hours

→enter the tissues, within 8 hours they  in size & develop lysosomes →tissue macrophages

• Tissue macrophages phagocytose & kill bacteria by similar mechanisms to neutrophils

but more powerfully as :

a) They can phagocytose up to 100 bacteria

b) They can engulf much large particles as whole RBCs or a parasite

c) Macrophage extrude them outside & survive for months

24 TISSUE MACROPHAGE SYSTEM
(reticulo-endothelial system)
RES consists of:
Monocytes

Mobile macrophages & Fixed tissue macrophages

Endothelial cells in BM, spleen & lymph nodes

 The tissue macrophages are 2 types :

1) Mobile macrophages

2) Fixed macrophages
25 • The tissue macrophages are known by
different names in various tissues:
26 Functions of tissue macrophage system
1- Phagocytosis
2- Engulfing of old blood cells
3- Breakdown of hgb & formation of bile pigment
4- Repair of damaged tissues →engulfing the necrotic tissues & release tissue
growth factors
5 - Production of 10 % of erythropoietin
6- Help in production of antibodies by B-lympholytes:
a) Upon entry of the foreign antigen to the body, macrophages phagocytize
it then digest it, then present its antigenic structure to B lymphocyte which begin
to form the antibodies
b) macrophage then secrete IL1 that activate T helper lymphocyte which by
its turn activates B lymphocytes to form antibodies
27 2 types of Immune defenses :
Nonspecific immune Specific immune defenses
defenses (Innate Immunity) (Acquired Immunity)
 infection or immunization
 specific
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29 Discussion

I. White Blood cells

II. Functions of WBC
III. White Blood cell types
IV.Functions of each WBC types
V. Leukopoiesis
VI.Biomedical Importance
VII.Diseases
30
31 Importance of leukocytes

 WBCs provide the body  They act together in

with a powerful defense different ways to prevent
mechanism against: diseases as by:
Infection Phagocytosis

Tumors Formation of sensitized

Toxins lymphocytes

Formation of antibodies
32 Discussion

I. White Blood cells

II. Functions of WBC
III. White Blood cell types
IV.Functions of each WBC types
V. Leukopoiesis
VI.Biomedical Importance
VII.Diseases
33 WBC Disorders
• Leukocytosis:
• number of white blood cells
• bacterial or viral infections, certain medications, allergies, smoking, inflammatory diseases,
autoimmune disorders, a genetic condition, and cancer
• Autoimmune neutropenia:
• when the body produces antibodies that attack and destroy neutrophils
• associated with Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis
• Severe congenital neutropenia: genetic mutation
• recurrent bacterial infections.
• Cyclic neutropenia: genetic mutation
• neutropenia occurs in cycles of about 21 days
• Chronic granulomatous disease:
• multiple types of WBCs (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages) are unable to function properly
• inherited condition and results in multiple infections, particularly pneumonia and abscesses
• Leukocyte adhesion deficiencies (LAD syndromes): rare genetic disorders
• where the white blood cells are unable to move to areas of infection
34 WBC Disorders

 Lymphoma
 Cancer of the lymphatic system
 Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 Leukemia
 blood cancer in which malignant white blood cells multiply
 Acute or chronic
 Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
 body produces too many immature cells, called blasts
 may progress either slowly or quite fast
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