monocyte

Also known as monocytes, MON

Monocytes are a type of leukocyte or white blood cell. They are the largest type of leukocyte in the blood and can differentiate into macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. As a part of the vertebrate innate immune system monocytes also influence adaptive immune responses and exert tissue repair functions. There are at least three subclasses of monocytes in human blood based on their phenotypic receptors.

AI overview

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that are the largest of their kind and play important roles in fighting infections and repairing tissue damage. They matter because they can transform into other immune cells and help coordinate both the body's innate and adaptive immune responses.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Cell.Name: Monocyte
Cell.Image: Blausen 0649 Monocyte (crop).png
Cell.Caption: 3D rendering of a monocyte
Cell.Image2: Monocytes, a type of white blood cell (Giemsa stained).jpg
Cell.Caption2: Monocytes under a light microscope from a peripheral blood smear surrounded by red blood cells
Cell.System: Immune system

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

181,412 papers

Selective Recruitment of Monocyte Subsets by Endothelial N-Glycans.ReviewThe American journal of pathology · 2020Regal-McDonald K, Patel RPDOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.01.006
Monocyte-related markers as predictors of immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy and immune-related adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Cancer metastasis reviews · 2025Ezdoglian A, Tsang-A-Sjoe M, Khodadust F et al.DOI: 10.1007/s10555-025-10246-6
Monocyte heterogeneity in human cardiovascular disease.ReviewImmunobiology · 2012Zawada AM, Rogacev KS, Schirmer SH et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2012.07.001
Monocyte and macrophage dynamics during atherogenesis.ReviewArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology · 2011Ley K, Miller YI, Hedrick CCDOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.221127
Monocyte-mediated entry of pathogens into the central nervous system.ReviewNeuropathology and applied neurobiology · 1990Williams AE, Blakemore WFDOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.1990.tb01274.x
Antigen presentation by mouse monocyte-derived cells: Re-evaluating the concept of monocyte-derived dendritic cells.ReviewMolecular immunology · 2021Coillard A, Segura EDOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.04.012
Interleukin-2 and human monocyte activation.ReviewJournal of leukocyte biology · 1995Espinoza-Delgado I, Bosco MC, Musso T et al.DOI: 10.1002/jlb.57.1.13
[History and perspectives of the monocyte-macrophage system].ReviewDer Pathologe · 2015Radzun HJDOI: 10.1007/s00292-015-0050-y

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Image: Monocytes, a type of white blood cell (Giemsa stained).jpg

Show 2 more facts

Commons category: Monocytes
native label: monocytus

Sources (7)

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~10 min read

Article

16 sections

Contents

Structure
Development
Subpopulations
In humans
In mice
Function
Differentiation into other effector cells
Specific functions of monocyte subpopulations
Clinical significance
Monocytosis
Monocytopenia
Blood content
See also
Further reading
References
External links

==Structure== Monocytes are amoeboid in appearance, and have nongranulated cytoplasm. Thus they are classified as agranulocytes, although they might occasionally display some azurophil granules and/or vacuoles. With a diameter of 15–22 μm, monocytes are the largest cell type in peripheral blood. Monocytes are mononuclear cells and the ellipsoidal nucleus is often lobulated/indented, causing a bean-shaped or kidney-shaped appearance. Monocytes compose 2% to 10% of all leukocytes in the human body.