From the Research
White blood cells are comprised of five main types: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, each with distinct functions and percentages in the human immune system. These types of white blood cells work together to protect the body from infections, with abnormal levels potentially indicating various health conditions such as infections, immune disorders, or blood cancers 1. The most recent and highest quality study on the classification of white blood cells was published in 2022, which used transfer learning based on convolutional neural networks to classify white blood cells into their respective types 1. Some of the key functions of these white blood cells include:
- Neutrophils: quickly respond to bacterial infections by engulfing and destroying pathogens
- Lymphocytes: include B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, which are responsible for targeted immune responses and memory
- Monocytes: circulate in the blood before entering tissues and becoming macrophages that clean up cellular debris and fight infections
- Eosinophils: combat parasitic infections and participate in allergic responses
- Basophils: release histamine and other chemicals during allergic reactions and inflammation Understanding the different types of white blood cells and their functions is crucial for diagnosing and treating various health conditions, and can be achieved through advanced laboratory tests such as complete blood count (CBC) tests 1. Additionally, recent studies have highlighted the importance of autophagy in regulating the innate immune system, including the functions of neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, and natural killer cells 2. Furthermore, the lifespan kinetics of innate myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, play a crucial role in tissue maintenance and the immune response, and have been updated in recent studies 3.