Have you ever wondered why our blood's 5 types of white blood cells are at such different concentrations?
Let's look at the standard levels in healthy people:
Neutrophils: 53%
Lymphocytes: 40%
Monocytes: 4%
Eosinophils: 2%
Basophils: 1%
The above values yield an NLR = 1.3 for those who understand the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. When white blood cell counts are evaluated based on early mortality, markers at this level are optimal. Research data indicates that people with these levels live the longest, all other things being approximately equal.
HERE IS MY CONSIDERATIONS.
Be aware that I cannot find any literature that studies explicitly how white blood cells react to types of pathogens. That is, to what percentage are they specific to given types of pathogens? Therefore, my conclusion is based on the following:
Neutrophils are specific to bacterial infections.
Lymphocytes respond to bacterial and viral species at approximately equal ratios.
Monocytes capture and neutralize larger "things" like the spike protein and parasites.
Basophils and Eosinophils split their activity between allergens and parasites.
Assuming their concentrations in blood reflect that level of the type of pathogen they combat, this is where our immune system places emphasis:
Bacteria: 53% (from neutrophils) and 20% (half of the lymphocyte level) = 73%
Viruses: (half of the lymphocyte level) = 20%
Parasites: 4% from monocytes and 1.5% from the sum of Eosinophils and Basophils.
HERE ARE MY CONCLUSIONS.
Our primary immunity—white blood cells—allocates 3/4th of their effort to fighting bacterial infections. Therefore, bacterial infections are the primary type of pathogen impacting our health. Why else would our immune system act in that way?
Viruses constitute ~20% of the harm that impacts human health.
Parasites have a low impact on human health at ~2% compared to viruses and bacteria.
Therefore, we should be concerned about pathogens as follows:
Bacterial infections: 74%
Viral infections: 21%
Parasitic infections: 5%
YOUR BLOOD DOESN'T LIE!
This is based on white blood cells only and does not consider immunoglobulins and other components of immunity. However, white blood cells are primary.
Now, let's explore some interesting historical/evolutionary facts.
Question 1: What do the various white blood cells do?
Neutrophils: The main job is to fight bacterial infections.
According to the NIH, neutrophils are a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that are a critical part of the immune system, specifically acting as the first responders to infections by ingesting and destroying microorganisms through phagocytosis and releasing enzymes. The main type of pathogen they fight is bacteria. Many sites, including many governmental sites, indicate that this type of white blood cell also fights fungal infections. That may be the case. However, antibiotic therapy that targets bacteria mainly often improves (lower) neutrophil blood levels in the direction of the above mentioned optimal level.
Here is a comprehensive reference of neutrophils.
Excerpt from the article: Neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, are the most abundant cell type in human blood. They are produced in the bone marrow in large numbers, ~1011 cells per day. Under homeostatic conditions, neutrophils enter the circulation, migrate to tissues, where they complete their functions, and finally are eliminated by macrophages, all in the lapse of a day. Neutrophils are important effector cells in the innate arm of the immune system (Mayadas et al., 2014). They constantly patrol the organism for signs of microbial infections, and when found, these cells quickly respond to trap and kill the invading pathogens. Three main antimicrobial functions are recognized for neutrophils: phagocytosis, degranulation, and the release of nuclear material in the form of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)
Lymphocytes: The main job is to support neutrophils by fighting viral and bacterial infections.
Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in the immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, with B cells producing antibodies and T cells directly targeting and destroying infected cells. There are two main types of lymphocytes:
B cells (B lymphocytes): These cells produce antibodies, which are proteins that target and neutralize specific pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.
T cells (T lymphocytes): These cells directly attack and destroy infected cells, including those infected with viruses or bacteria.
Even though antibodies are not probably the chief control process in parasitic infections with intracellular phases, they increase in response to all protozoal infections such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, and Plasmodium.
Monocytes: The main job is to fight fungal and protozoal infections.
Monocytes originate from progenitors in the bone marrow and traffic via the bloodstream to peripheral tissues. During homeostasis and inflammation, circulating monocytes leave the bloodstream and migrate into tissues where, following conditioning by local growth factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and microbial products, they differentiate into macrophage or dendritic cell populations. Recruitment of monocytes is essential for effectively controlling and clearing viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections.
Studies of these different diseases have revealed the remarkable multipotency of monocytes in different inflammatory environments. The ability of monocytes to mobilize and traffic to where they are needed is central to their functions in promoting immune defense during infection and driving inflammatory diseases. This review focuses on the mechanisms that allow monocytes to traffic from their site of origin — the bone marrow — to distinct tissue sites.
Monocytes were often elevated during COVID-19 due to the SARS and/or the spike protein.
Basophils: The main job is to fight fungal and protozoal infections.
Basophils are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system. Basophils are essential for regulating allergic reactions, supporting immune responses, defending against parasites, and maintaining blood clotting.
Their primary functions include:
1. Allergic Reactions:
Basophils contain granules filled with histamine, heparin, and other chemicals.
When exposed to allergens, basophils release these granules, leading to symptoms such as swelling, redness, itching, and mucus production.
2. Immune Regulation:
Basophils help regulate the immune response by releasing cytokines, which are signaling molecules that influence the activity of other immune cells.
They promote the development of Th2 (helper T cell 2) cells, which are involved in allergic reactions and anti-parasitic immunity.
3. Anti-parasitic Defense:
Basophils play a role in defending the body against parasites.
They release chemicals that attract and activate other immune cells to fight parasites.
4. Blood Clotting:
Heparin, contained in basophil granules, acts as an anticoagulant, preventing excessive blood clotting.
5. Wound Healing:
Basophils release factors that promote wound healing by attracting fibroblasts, which produce collagen.
Eosinophils: The main job is to fight fungal and protozoal infections.
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the body's response to parasites and allergic reactions, contributing to inflammation and potentially damaging tissue.
Eosinophils and Parasites:
Eosinophils are known for targeting and killing parasitic worms (helminths). They do this by binding to the parasites, releasing toxic substances, and contributing to inflammation at the site of infection.
Eosinophils and Allergies:
During allergic reactions, eosinophils are also recruited to the affected tissues, contributing to the inflammatory response. They release substances that can cause tissue damage and contribute to the symptoms of allergies.
While primarily known for their roles in parasitic infections and allergies, eosinophils also play a role in other immune responses, including fighting bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Immunoglobulins:
Immunoglobulins are included in this discussion because of their action against parasitic infections.
A hallmark of the immune response to parasite infection is immunoglobulin (Ig) E binding to Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells and basophils, leading to degranulation and secretion of inflammatory mediators [58,124,125]. This interaction, which bridges antigen-specific and innate immunity, is primarily mediated by the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) constitutively expressed on mast cells and basophils [58,111,124–126].
Question 2: What came first, white blood cells or organisms that these cells manage?
Bacteria, as the earliest form of life on Earth, came before humans, with evidence suggesting their existence around 3.5 billion years ago. In contrast, humans evolved much later, with modern humans originating in Africa within the past 200,000 years.
Viruses likely predated humans, possibly existing as self-replicating entities in the pre-cellular world, with some scientists proposing they could even be older than the first cells.
Ancient Origins:
Scientists believe viruses are at least as old as the first cells, which emerged around 4 billion years ago. Some theories suggest viruses could have existed even earlier, in a pre-cellular world, as self-replicating entities that later evolved into forms that parasitize cells.
Viral Evolution:
Over time, these early replicative entities may have evolved into more complex structures and gained the ability to infect cells, eventually leading to the viruses we know today.
Human Evolution:
Humans, as a species, evolved much later, with the oldest evidence of early humans dating back millions of years, but not billions.
Viral Genetic Material in Human DNA:
It's also worth noting that viral genetic material is embedded in our own DNA, constituting close to 10% of the human genome.
Protozoa evolved and existed long before humans, with protozoa appearing in the Precambrian era and humans evolving much later.
Protozoa:
These are single-celled eukaryotic organisms, a group that includes organisms like amoebas and paramecia. They are considered a subkingdom of the kingdom Protista, though, in the classical system, they were placed in the kingdom Animalia.
Fungi:
Fungi existed before humans, with evidence suggesting their emergence around 1 billion years ago, while the earliest evidence for humans dates back to 6-2 million years ago.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Fungi:
Fossil and DNA evidence indicate that fungi emerged at least a billion years ago.
Humans:
The earliest evidence of humans, including fossils of early humans, dates back to 6-2 million years ago, with modern humans originating in Africa within the past 200,000 years.
The key difference between protozoa and fungi is that protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms, while fungi are primarily multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
Mold, as a type of fungus, predates humans, having existed on Earth for millions of years, while humans evolved relatively recently.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Mold's Origins:
Molds are a type of fungus and have been around for millions of years, playing a vital role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
Human Evolution:
Humans, as a species, are relatively recent evolutionary developments. Our closest living relatives, the great apes (chimpanzees and bonobos), share a common ancestor with us that lived about 5-7 million years ago.
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