The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists, believes you probably know your white blood cells are valiant fighters of infection. You probably know that when the immune system is threatened, the white blood cells go into action, but did you know there are specialists among the white blood cells?
Specialized White Cells On Guard
Among the various types of white blood cells are the patrolling monocytes, which function in two major ways:
1. Patrolling monocytes are great scavengers which help destroy cellular debris.
2. The block “invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells.”
3. Now, scientists are researching a third way monocytes function, especially in the lungs. They appear to provide an amazing anti-cancer defense.
Watching the “Patrolling Monocytes”
A recent study shows how they guard against tumor lung metastasis. At La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, scientists have been researching how monocytes prevent break-away tumor cells from clamping onto the blood vessel walls. Note: If these break-away tumor cells can attach to the lining of blood vessel walls, they can gain access to lung tissue where they establish metastases, which can become life-threatening.
The New Research
Prior to this research, scientists already knew these white blood cell scavengers, these patrolling macrocytes, could counteract inflammation in the context of atherosclerosis. To learn more about 
monocytes, Catherine C. Hedrick, Ph.D, and her team worked in three stages:
First, they traced “the wanderings of these cells in the lung vasculature…”
Second, they carefully filmed the patrolling monocytes while they were in hot pursuit of “invading tumor cells…”
Then “they employed a mouse model that they developed to demonstrate how effective this pursuit is in a living animal.”
They published their findings in the October 22, 2015, online edition of Science. The results show patrolling monocytes directly blocking lung metastasis.
Dr. Hedrick, a Professor in the Division of Inflammation Biology, stated, “Our study shows that this subgroup of white blood cells is a key player in orchestrating the killing of metastasizing tumor cells.”
She added, “These cells recognize and could help destroy early metastasizing tumor cells in the blood, even before they can invade new tissues and form new tumors.”
Dr. Hedrick quickly cautioned, “We haven’t proven that patrolling monocytes directly kill tumor cells.” The findings also noted that the “patrollers appear to engulf debris from tumor cells but whether they administer the death blow remains unclear.”
She concluded, “What is certain is that the patrolling monocytes recruit other immune cells called natural killer cells that are capable of killing tumor cells.
Alternatively, these monocytes could scavenge tumor cell debris, which might dampen the inflammatory response.”
At FLASS, our doctors and staff, hope that such findings will eventually lead to developing immunotherapies to help treat lung cancer, but much more study is needed.
If Dr. Hedrick’s study intrigues you, you can learn more about it at this reliable online resource.
Happy Halloween and A Friendly Reminder from FLASS:
Halloween with its ghouls and goblins does not frighten the doctors and staff at Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists. And we DO want you to have a safe,
healthy, Happy Halloween!
But here is what scares us: We are afraid you will forget to have your flu shots!
Although flu reports are still minimal, we want to remind you to get your flu shot soon.
Be sure your little princesses, fairies, skeletons and vampires, as well as your older relatives, get protected from the flu!
Experts at the Florida Health Department have stated, “Flu season happens every year. It starts in the fall and continues into the spring.
Make sure you are protecting yourself and others from the flu by practicing good health habits and “getting your annual vaccination.”
Protect your family from the illness that sends 114,000 Americans to hospitals or Emergency Rooms every year. It is so simple; just make the time to take the vaccine!
