Elevated blood lymphocytes: causes require clarification

Cells of the human immune system - lymphocytes - refer to the leukocyte group of white agranulocytes and create conditions for the formation of humoral and cellular immunity. Humoral immunity produces antibodies, and cellular immunity provides contact with the cells-victims. Also, lymphocytes serve as observers for other blood cells and, if necessary, regulate their activity.

Lymphocytes and lymphoblasts

Lymphocytes are the dominant cellular elements of the entire immune system in the human body that enter the bloodstream from the bone marrow and then actively function in the lymphoid tissue. If the elevated lymphocytes in the blood, the reasons for this require immediate clarification, and first of all you need to do a general laboratory analysis. In adult blood, lymphocytes account for 20 to 35 percent of the total number of white cells. Part of them (about 2%) is in free circulation in peripheral blood streams, and 98% is in tissues. According to their morphological features, lymphocytes are divided into two categories: large granular cells (NK cells, immunoblasts, lymphoblasts) and small ones (T cells and B cells). All these cells are active, and lymphoblasts participate in immune processes much less often. If there is an elevated level of lymphocytes in the blood, this means that the body has undergone negative changes, a hidden focus of infection or local inflammation has arisen.

Groups of lymphocytes

B cells detect antigens, foreign structures that penetrate the body. In doing so, they produce protein molecules that neutralize harmful agents. T cells destroy antigens, maintaining immunity in the active phase, preventing its weakening. Elevated lymphocytes in the blood, the cause of this phenomenon, a person may not know, are detected using a blood test. NK lymphocytes control the quality of cells throughout the body. At the same time, they destroy cells that do not correspond to norms, for example, cancer cells. T-lymphocytes constitute 70-80% of the total, B-cells are in a ratio of 15-20%, and NK lymphocytes are the smallest, their content does not exceed 5-10%. If the elevated lymphocytes in the blood, the reasons for this may be different, but in any case it is a signal that the body is not all right.

Pathogenesis

Lymphocytes, together with their molecular components, help to carry out the pathogenesis of immunodeficiency, infectious, oncological and allergic diseases, transplantation conflicts and, importantly, autoimmune diseases. During the operation, it is possible to increase the level of lymphocytes and the appearance of lymphocytosis, this occurs with an adequate response to antigenic activity. In the event that there is an increased number of lymphocytes, this means the beginning of the fight of cells with antigens. But there may also be a decrease in the level, in case of an inadequate response to stimulation of antigens, and then lymphopenia occurs.

Morphology of lymphocytes

In clinical practice, there are leukemoid reactions of the lymphatic type, in which there is a picture with signs of chronic or acute leukemia. Such reactions occur with infectious mononucleosis, tuberculosis, syphilis and brucellosis. Infectious mononucleosis - the result of a viral infection that often occurs in children, is characterized by a high level of leukocytosis due to lymphocytes, which in the course of the disease acquire new qualities of morphological diversity. Blood is enriched with atypical lymphocytes, with signs of dysplasia of the nucleus and an increase in the cytoplasm. In any case, when the elevated lymphocytes in the blood are diagnosed, the causes will be found and, if possible, eliminated.