Where Do Mononuclear Phagocytes Come from?

Mononuclear phagocytic cells are derived from precursor cells in the bone marrow. These precursors develop into monocytes and dendritic cells, phagocytic cells that are released into the bloodstream. Some monocytes and dendritic cells remain in the general blood circulation, but most of them enter body tissues.

What makes up the mononuclear phagocyte system?

The mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) has been defined as a family of cells comprising bone marrow progenitors, blood monocytes and tissue macrophages. Macrophages are a major cell population in most of the tissues in the body, and their numbers increase further in inflammation, wounding and malignancy.

Where do phagocytes come from?

Phagocytes include neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), which have the capacity to engulf and digest relatively large particles on the order of 1–10 µm and even larger. In adults, these cells are generated from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.