Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes White Blood Cells

Table of Contents
View All
Table of Contents

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells. PMNs are a subtype of leukocytes released by bone marrow as a first line of defense against infection or inflammation in the body. 

PMNs are also known as granulocytes. They play a central role in the innate immune system.

In normal conditions, the most common PMN by far is the neutrophil. These make up the largest amount of blood cells produced by the bone marrow and are the first line of defense in protecting the body from infection.

This article explains PMN's origin, function, and abnormalities.

Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes
Istockphoto.com / toeytoey2530

What Does 'Polymorphonuclear' Mean?

The term "polymorphonuclear" describes the varied shapes and sizes of a cell's nucleus (the part of the cell that contains chromosomes).

The nuclei of PMNs have two or three lobes with deep divisions. This dynamic is unlike many other cells where the nucleus has more of a unified "egg yolk" appearance.

PMNs are also called granulocytes or granular leukocytes because they contain and release granules. The contents of granules vary by cell type. In the case of neutrophils, the granules contain proteins and substances that help fight infection.

Histamine is released with mast cells and basophils when the cell degranulates (breaks down). This breakdown triggers a defensive inflammatory response.

Origin of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

PMNs, other types of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets develop from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.

What Is Hematopoiesis?

Hematopoiesis is the process of blood cell formation, development, and maturity.

Hematopoietic stem cell precursors are those cells committed to forming a new kind of cell. From precursors, the blood-forming cells follow two pathways:

Except for mast cells (found in connective tissue), PMNs are found primarily in the blood. However, the cells will often follow the immune system's chemical signals and move to different sites in the body where they are needed.

For example, when the body experiences inflammation, blood vessels widen so these cells can more easily reach the site of an infection or injury. PMNs are the body's front-line defense against disease and infection.

Innate vs. Acquired Immune Response

PMNs are part of the non-specific innate immune system. That means they treat all intruders similarly. 

The term "innate" means that this system can function from birth. The cells don't need to learn to recognize the invaders; they attack anything that the body considers foreign.

The innate immune response differs from the acquired immune response.

In the acquired immune system, specialized immune cells learn to recognize specific invaders. The response is more complex than that of the innate immune response.

The acquired immune response involves:

  • B cell lymphocytes, which destroy invading germs
  • T cell lymphocytes, which destroy compromised cells in the body
  • Antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which alert lymphocytes to foreign agents

Function of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Each PMN has a slightly different role in health, although there is some overlap. For example, while a healthy PMN response can fight infection, an inappropriate response (such as releasing histamine in people with allergic asthma) can cause problems.

Neutrophils

Neutrophils are the body's first-line defense against bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections. When there is a tissue injury, the body releases chemotactic factors (substances that stimulate cell migration) to attract neutrophils.

Eosinophils

Eosinophils are involved in allergic reactions and also fight parasitic infections. High levels of eosinophils can result from other conditions, such as drug reactions or immune system disorders like eosinophilic esophagitis.

Basophils

Basophils are also involved in allergic reactions. In addition, they secrete histamine and other compounds that cause inflammation. Basophils are the bloodborne equivalent of mast cells.

Mast Cells

Mast cells live in tissues and play an important role in respiratory and digestive conditions. Mast cells have two major subtypes:

  • Connective tissue mast cells, which trigger inflammation
  • Mucosal mast cells, which keep the gut in balance

Histamine and other substances within these PMNs (such as heparin) help regulate the immune response.

Abnormal Levels of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

In a complete blood count (CBC), labs use a reference value (RV) for each cell type. Anything below the RV may be considered low, while anything above the reference value may be high.

Certain conditions cause low or high levels of PMNs in the blood.

Neutrophilia

High levels of neutrophils in the blood, referred to as neutrophilia, are most commonly caused by infections, but can also be elevated in response to inflammation, injuries, stress, and certain medications. In response to these stressors, neutrophil reserves in the bone marrow are released. The spike in neutrophils is generally short-term.

In addition, certain blood cancers can result in increased neutrophils (like chronic myelocytic leukemia and polycythemia vera) or in variable neutrophil counts (like primary myelofibrosis).

A normal neutrophil count is between 2,500 and 7,000 cells per microliter of blood. A count of greater than 7,700 neutrophils per microliter of blood is considered neutrophilia.

Neutropenia

Neutropenia occurs when the body does not have enough neutrophils. When this happens, it can increase a person’s risk of infection. In addition, certain cancer therapies can cause neutrophil levels to fall, resulting in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

A low neutrophil count is less than 1, 000 cells per microliter of blood.

Eosinophilia

Eosinophilia is the excessive production of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell). It can be the result of:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Drug reactions
  • Parasitic infections
  • Certain cancers

A deficiency of these cells is uncommon.

A normal eosinophil count is between 100 and 500 cells per microliter of blood. A count is higher than normal with results of more than 500 cells per microliter of blood.

Basophilia

Basophilia is an excess of the white blood cell called basophils. It is uncommon, but may occur with:

A normal count is between 0 to 200 basophils per microliter of blood. Basophilia is diagnosed at a count greater than 200. Low basophil counts are uncommon.

Summary

PMNs are a type of white blood cell. They are part of the innate immune system and attack foreign substances. Blood work can detect unusual levels of PMNs, which may indicate infection or other conditions.

16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Library of Medicine. Granulocyte.

  2. He SH, Zhang HY, Zang XN, Chen D, Yang PC. Mast cells and basophils are essential for allergies: mechanisms of allergic inflammation and a proposed procedure for diagnosis. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2013 Oct 7;34(10):1270-83. doi:10.1038/aps.2013.88

  3. Kondo M. Lymphoid and myeloid lineage commitment in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors. Immunol Rev. 2010;238(1):37-46.

  4. Rosales C, Demaurex N, Lowell CA, Uribe-Querol E. Neutrophils: Their role in innate and adaptive immunity. J Immunol Res. 2016;2016:1469780. doi:10.1155/2016/1469780.

  5. Cano RLE, Lopera HDE. Chapter 5. Introduction to T and B lymphocytes. In: Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside [Internet].

  6. Gomez Torrijos E, Gonzalez-Mendiola R, Alvarado M, et al. Eosinophilic esophagitis: review and updateFront Med (Lausanne). 2018;5:247. doi:10.3389/fmed.2018.00247

  7. Krystel-whittemore M, Dileepan KN, Wood JG. Mast cell: A multi-functional master cell. Front Immunol. 2015;6:620. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2015.00620.

  8. Merck Manual. Neutrophilic leukocytosis.

  9. Wu L, Saxena S, Awaji M, Singh RK. Tumor-associated neutrophils in cancer: going pro. Cancers (Basel). 2019 Apr;11(4):564. doi:10.3390/cancers11040564

  10. Tahir N, Zahra F. Neutrophilia. In: StatPearls

  11. Badr M, Hassan T, Sakr H, et al. Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia among pediatric cancer patients in Egypt: risks and consequences. Mol Clin Oncol. 2016 Sep;5(3):300-6. doi:10.3892/mco.2016.957

  12. American Cancer Society. Understanding your lab test results.

  13. Merck Manual. Eosinophilic disorders.

  14. Kovalszki A, Weller PF. Eosinophilia. Prim Care. 2016;43(4):607-617. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2016.07.010.

  15. Merck Manual. Basophilic disorders.

  16. Sticco KL and Lynch DT. Basophilia. In: StatPearls.

By Karen Raymaakers
Karen Raymaakers RN, CON(C) is a certified oncology nurse that has worked with leukemia and lymphoma patients for over a decade.