Condition
Histiocyte
Andrey Nailor, M.D.Published 22 March 20051 min read
Key points
- Histiocytes are cells of the immune system that ingest foreign antigens to protect against infection.
- They are fixed, meaning they remain in one part of the body rather than traveling through the bloodstream.
- Histiocytosis involves an abnormal number of histiocytes and may affect the lungs (alveoli), the bones, or the lymphatic system.
Alternative names
Macrophage
Definition
Histiocytes are cells of the immune system that ingest foreign antigens to protect against infection. They are fixed, meaning they remain in one part of the body rather than traveling through the bloodstream.
Histiocytes are found in many organs and connective tissues:
- Spleen
- Lymph nodes
- Brain
- Liver (Kupffer cells)
- Breast tissue
- Alveoli
- Tonsils
- Serous cavities
- Placenta
Histiocytosis involves an abnormal number of histiocytes and may affect the lungs (alveoli), the bones, or the lymphatic system.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
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