Histiocytes
Histiocytes
Histiocytes (/hɪˈstɪoʊ.saɪts/) are a type of immune cell that reside in many tissues throughout the body. They are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system, which includes macrophages, dendritic cells, and monocytes.
Etymology
The term "histiocyte" is derived from the Greek words "histio" meaning tissue and "cyte" meaning cell.
Function
Histiocytes play a crucial role in the body's immune response. They are responsible for detecting and eliminating foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, and for removing dead or damaged cells. Histiocytes are also involved in the process of inflammation, which is the body's response to injury or infection.
Related Terms
- Macrophage: A type of histiocyte that is particularly effective at engulfing and destroying bacteria and other foreign substances.
- Dendritic cell: Another type of histiocyte, dendritic cells are primarily involved in presenting antigens to T cells to initiate an immune response.
- Monocyte: These are the precursors to histiocytes. They circulate in the bloodstream and migrate into tissues where they differentiate into histiocytes.
- Histiocytosis: This is a group of diseases characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of histiocytes.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Histiocytes
- Wikipedia's article - Histiocytes
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