LE cell
LE cell
LE cell (pronounced: el-ee cell) is a type of white blood cell that is a key indicator in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease. The term "LE" stands for "lupus erythematosus", and these cells were first discovered in bone marrow samples from patients with SLE.
Etymology
The term "LE cell" is derived from the disease it is associated with, lupus erythematosus. The word "lupus" is Latin for "wolf", and "erythematosus" is derived from the Greek words "erythros" meaning "red" and "-itis" meaning "inflammation". The term was first used in the 1940s when Hargraves et al. discovered these cells in the bone marrow of patients with SLE.
Description
LE cells are neutrophils or macrophages that have engulfed the nuclear material of other cells. This nuclear material is typically from damaged or apoptotic cells and is coated with autoantibodies, which are antibodies that mistakenly target and react with a person's own tissues or organs. The presence of LE cells is a hallmark of SLE, but they can also be found in other autoimmune conditions.
Related Terms
- Systemic lupus erythematosus: A chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, and internal organs.
- Autoimmune disease: A condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells and tissues.
- Neutrophils: A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system's first line of defense against infection.
- Macrophages: A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells.
- Autoantibodies: Antibodies that mistakenly target and react with a person's own tissues or organs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on LE cell
- Wikipedia's article - LE cell
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