Mechanism
Early leukocytosis is a response to the release of cytokines by body cells involved in an inflammatory or immune response. The key mediators are interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor. These act on bone marrow to cause an increase in number of released immature cells: the 'left-shift' response.
If the stimulus to leukocytosis is prolonged, colony stimulating factors are released peripherally by T-lymphocytes and monocytes to cause an increase in the proliferation of bone marrow progenitor cells, their differentiation and activation.
Reference
- Chabot-Richards DS, George TI. Leukocytosis. Int J Lab Hematol. 2014 Jun;36(3):279-88.
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