# Name for process by which body mobilizes white blood cells to fight infection **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769 "2019-07-28T20:49:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/1 "2019-07-28T20:49:22Z")
Is there a specific medical term for the process by which your body responds to infection by creating and dispatching many white blood cells to go get the invaders? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/2 "2019-07-28T21:05:40Z")
Immune response? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/3 "2019-07-28T21:09:13Z")
Right, but like, is there an even more specific term (specifically about the white blood cells only)? Or is that already it ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/4 "2019-07-28T21:13:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Is there a specific medical term for the process by which your body responds to infection by creating and dispatching many white blood cells to go get the invaders? There are many answers, depending on what step you’re referring to. Immune response is good for describing any response to something the immune system recognizes as needing a response to (an antigen). (When an antigen isn’t really a pathogen it’s called an allergy or autoimmune). Clonal expansion is the term for the amplification of specific B cells that are responding to the antigen to make antibodies. T cell activation is when T cells respond to antigen and become able to destroy pathogens and regulate B cells. Primary response happens the first time your immune system sees the particular antigen/pathogen Secondary response is when memory cells see an antigen/pathogen they fought before (or were vaccinated against) and ramp up the response even quicker. ETA: white blood cells are both B cells (which secrete antibodies, which kill pathogens indirectly, “long rage missiles”) and T cells (kills pathogens more directly, “hand to hand combat”, and coordinates B and T cell response) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/5 "2019-07-28T21:21:52Z")
From my infectious disease & immunology classes (oh, so long ago)… [Inflammation](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammation) > [@](#): > > Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) from the blood into the injured tissues. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/6 "2019-07-28T22:34:58Z")
Leukocytosis? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/7 "2019-07-28T22:59:58Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > From my infectious disease & immunology classes (oh, so long ago)… > > [Inflammation](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammation) Inflammation is something that happens when the body fights infection, but it’s not the mobilization of white blood cells, per se, but can result in white bloods proliferating as a consequence. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/8 "2019-07-28T23:09:51Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Is there a specific medical term for the process by which your body responds to infection by creating and dispatching many white blood cells to go get the invaders? The type of white blood cell known as a neutrophil is recruited into the bloodstream to fight infection by the process of _demargination_. This is different than release of neutrophils (released immaturely during an infection) from the bone marrow which has huge reserves and can ramp up production dramatically. Demargination refers to mature neutrophils that had been residing in the walls of blood vessels waiting for the signal to leap into action. Unlike another type of white cell called a lymphocyte which attacks only extremely specific targets, neutrophils, whether demarginated or from the marrow, are non-specific fighters forming the first line of defence. As with pretty much everything involving the immune system(s), the control and precise mechanisms of demargination of neutrophils from the blood vessels into the circulation is not fully understood. That said, it is known that stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can unleash the demargination process. Interestingly, but maybe not too surprisingly, people who have a heart attack, a seizure, trauma, diabetic coma, and many more serious acute ‘stresses’ will predictably have a high neutrophil count in their blood for some time after the stress. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/9 "2019-07-29T00:45:59Z")
Somewhat related to the topic, it’s a recent article about new research, pain receptors trigger immune response also: > **[Pain and gain: Skin nerves anticipate and fight infection](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190725150948.htm)** > > A surprising new discovery in mouse models reveals a previously unknown role for pain in immunity and has implications for treating autoimmune diseases. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/10 "2019-07-29T01:49:13Z")
There is also the _activation_ process for [macrophages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrophage). ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/11 "2019-07-29T02:43:20Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Inflammation is something that happens when the body fights infection, but it’s not the mobilization of white blood cells, per se, but can result in white bloods proliferating as a consequence. An emphasized repeat of the quote I included: > [@](#): > > Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the **increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) f**rom the blood into the injured tissues. A definition: > [@](#): > > Leucocytes > > A colorless cell that circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell. There are several types, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-process-by-which-body-mobilizes-white-blood-cells-to-fight-infection/837769/12 "2019-07-29T04:01:25Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > The type of white blood cell known as a neutrophil is recruited into the bloodstream to fight infection by the process of _demargination_. This is different than release of neutrophils (released immaturely during an infection) from the bone marrow which has huge reserves and can ramp up production dramatically. > > Demargination refers to mature neutrophils that had been residing in the walls of blood vessels waiting for the signal to leap into action. Unlike another type of white cell called a lymphocyte which attacks only extremely specific targets, neutrophils, whether demarginated or from the marrow, are non-specific fighters forming the first line of defence. > > As with pretty much everything involving the immune system(s), the control and precise mechanisms of demargination of neutrophils from the blood vessels into the circulation is not fully understood. That said, it is known that stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can unleash the demargination process. Interestingly, but maybe not too surprisingly, people who have a heart attack, a seizure, trauma, diabetic coma, and many more serious acute ‘stresses’ will predictably have a high neutrophil count in their blood for some time after the stress. Demargination may be the word I needed, thanks 🙂