What do white blood cells do?
White blood cells or leukocytes have a variety of functions and such functions depend on the type of white blood cell as follows:
Neutrophils
They function mainly as antibacterial cells; they are lethal to bacteria and produce many enzymes for such a purpose. They also have some antifungal action and an important role in tissue healing and mediating inflammation. Neutrophils form the majority of white blood cells, with more than 60% of the total leukocyte count being of this type.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are divided into T and B lymphocytes according to their function and cell of origin. They have a broad variety of functions. B lymphocytes are the main site of formation of antibodies, while T lymphocytes are responsible for what we call a “cell-mediated immunity” which is the main defense mechanism against viral infections and cancer. They also have a central role in regulating the immune system by keeping it strong enough to fight intruders and weak enough not to attack the body itself in a process known as “autoimmunity”. Almost all autoimmune diseases result from abnormalities in T-cells. They also contribute to tissue healing.
A third type of lymphocytes is called natural killer cells, and they function as a rapid response to any intruder. Whenever any abnormal antigen or protein is detected, they sacrifice themselves to keep it at bay until the body can mount a sufficient immune response.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are concerned with two main functions: mediating allergic conditions as asthma and fighting parasites.
Basophils
Basophils are responsible for the release of histamine which is one of the main chemical mediators of inflammation and has a central role in most allergic conditions, such as urticaria and asthma.
Monocytes
Monocytes are cells that are underdeveloped, which means that they undergo further development when they reach the cells in which they reside. They differentiate into macrophages which are cells that eat other cells and foreign particles.