Your Health

How Monocytes Function in the Body

How Are Monocytes Produced?

Monocytes are produced from myelomonocytic stem cells in the bone marrow. After this process, they are released into peripheral blood and circulate throughout the body for several hours before entering organ’s tissue, such as bone marrow tissue, lungs, liver, as well as the spleen. Monocytes remain dormant until an infection or disease causes the body to activate them to become macrophages. After being fully activated, macrophages may release toxic elements to destroy infected cells or harmful bacteria. [2]