Lymphocytes

[mummytina]

Does anyone know what "Lymphocytes" are and how and what they do for your body or to your body mine is below the level it should be.

Any help would be gratefully received.

[helvella]

Lymphocytes are specialised white blood cells which form part of the immune system. There are three types - Natural Killer (NK), T and B.

They destroy alien cells such as those of bacteria and also seem to be what destroys thyroid cells in Hashimoto's (T cells, I think).

According to good old Wiki, low lymphocytes (lymphocytopenia) causes include:

The most common cause of temporary lymphocytopenia is a recent infection, such as the common cold.

Lymphocytopenia, but not idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia, is associated with corticosteroid use, infections with HIV and other viral, bacterial, and fungal agents, malnutrition, systemic lupus erythematosus, severe stress, intense or prolonged physical exercise (due to cortisol release), rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and iatrogenic (caused by other medical treatments) conditions.

Lymphocytopenia is a frequent, temporary result from many types of chemotherapy, such as with cytotoxic agents or immunosuppressive drugs. Some malignancies that have spread to involve the bone marrow, such as leukemia or advanced Hodgkin's disease, also cause lymphocytopenia.

Large doses of radiation, such as those involved with nuclear accidents or medical whole body radiation, may cause lymphocytopenia.

[Hidden]

Hi,

Lymphocytes are part of your whitebloodcells, mine were to low when diagnosed with B12 def and came up to normal values in time.

These make up your white cell count:

•Neutrophils

•Lymphocytes

•Monocytes

•Eosinophils

•Basophils

To find out what they do etc use the search options in these two websites, type in the search box what ever you may be looking for, see

patient. co. uk

patient.co.uk/health/the-im...

"Lymphocytes have a variety of different functions. They attack viruses and other pathogens. They also make antibodies which help to destroy bacteria. Lymphocytes are divided into T cells and B cells. Bone marrow is the tissue found within the internal cavity of bones. It contains stem cells, which create B and T cells. B cells mature in the bone marrow whereas T cells mature in the thymus.These are the cells responsible for developing immunity to particular types of bacteria and virus."

And:

labtestsonline.org.uk/

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

"A decreased WBC count is called leucopenia. It can result from many different situations, such as

medication, especially chemotherapy, or radiotherapy

vitamin deficiency, such as B12 or folic acid

liver disease

an enlarged spleen

occasionally in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or SLE

some infections

diseases of the immune system "

I hope this helps,

Kind regards,

Marre.