Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (695 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Large, phagocytic mononuclear leukocytes produced in the vertebrate bone marrow and released into the blood; contain a large, oval or somewhat indented nucleus surrounded by voluminous cytoplasm and numerous organelles.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Monocyte.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Bone Marrow Cells; Myeloid Cells; Phagocytes; Mononuclear Phagocyte System
- Narrower topics
- Monocytes, Activated Killer; Monocyte-Macrophage Precursor Cells
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 73,085 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Monocytes” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 10,046 of them (13.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 26,071 records.
Reviews account for 3,933 records (5.4%) and meta-analyses for 114. Randomized controlled trials number 689 (0.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 26,071 |
| 2000-2009 | 17,784 |
| 2010-2019 | 19,184 |
| 2020 onward | 10,046 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 3,933 | 5.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 114 | 0.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 689 | 0.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Monocytes"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Induces an Anti-inflammatory Response and a Metabolic Reprogramming in Human Monocytes | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 41553310 · DOI · PMC13006548 |
| Plasma PFDN2 suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by restricting CD64 on monocyte-driven inflammatory microenvironments | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 7 | cc by PMID 41884853 · DOI · PMC13008937 |
| The recombinant zoster vaccine induces trained immunity in monocytes through persistent downregulation of TGFβ | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 7 | cc by PMID 41348857 · DOI · PMC12694829 |
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Induces an Anti-inflammatory Response and a Metabolic Reprogramming in Human Monocytes [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background & aimsFaecalibacterium prausnitzii, a highly abundant gut bacterium, has been linked to overall health, and is decreased in several pathologic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Closing excerpt
- These results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of F prausnitzii and are crucial for a better understanding of its potential use in IBD treatment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (261 words)
Background & aimsFaecalibacterium prausnitzii, a highly abundant gut bacterium, has been linked to overall health, and is decreased in several pathologic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). F prausnitzii has shown anti-inflammatory properties in human and mouse models, notably through the induction of interleukin 10 (IL10) signaling. Here, we investigated which cell types from human blood and intestinal tissue are responsible for producing IL10 induced by F prausnitzii and provide the first mechanistic insights.MethodsImmune cells isolated from human blood and intestinal lamina propria of IBD patients and noninflamed controls, were stimulated with F prausnitzii EXL01 strain, Coprococcus comes 27758 strain, and Escherichia coli MG1655 strain, with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and analyzed by LEGENDplex, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, and Seahorse technology.ResultsF prausnitzii induced a direct and dose-dependent production of IL10 in cluster of differentiation 14+ monocytes from the systemic circulation and intestinal tissue, without inducing a proinflammatory response compared with LPS stimulation. RNA sequencing and Seahorse analyses corroborated these results, revealing that F prausnitzii affects cellular energy metabolism in healthy and inflammatory conditions, in a different way from 2 other tested bacteria and LPS. The anti-inflammatory response induced by F prausnitzii in monocytes was dependent on mitochondrial respiration.ConclusionsF prausnitzii induces an anti-inflammatory response and rewires energy metabolism in human monocytes in healthy and inflamed conditions, potentially explaining its beneficial impact on intestinal inflammation and human health in general. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of F prausnitzii and are crucial for a better understanding of its potential use in IBD treatment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41553310 · DOI · PMC13006548
Plasma PFDN2 suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by restricting CD64 on monocyte-driven inflammatory microenvironments [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with poor prognosis and frequent recurrence.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsOur findings establish PFDN2 as a protective plasma protein that restrains HNSC progression by suppressing CD64 on monocyte-mediated inflammatory immune microenvironments, highlighting the PFDN2-CD64 axis as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (271 words)
BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with poor prognosis and frequent recurrence. Beyond tumor-intrinsic alterations, the immune microenvironment plays a decisive role in tumor initiation and progression. However, the causal contribution of systemic plasma proteins to immune regulation and HNSC susceptibility remains poorly defined.MethodsWe conducted a multi-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study integrating large-scale plasma proteomics, immune cell phenotypes, and HNSC. Mediation analyses were performed to identify immune cell phenotypes that potentially mediate protein-HNSC associations. The findings were further supported by immune infiltration analyses, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations and validation using clinical HNSC specimens, including single-cell RNA sequencing of collected samples, scTenifoldKnk virtual knockout modeling and immunofluorescence staining/histological assessment of HNSC tissues.ResultsAmong 4907 plasma proteins, MR identified prefoldin subunit 2 (PFDN2) as a protective factor against hypopharyngeal carcinoma, with no evidence of reverse causality. Immune phenotype MR analyses revealed CD64 on monocyte (FCGR1A+ monocytes) as the only immune trait causally linked to both PFDN2 and cancer risk. Analysis using multiple deconvolution algorithms demonstrated a consistent negative correlation between PFDN2 expression and monocyte infiltration. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed predominant PFDN2 expression in epithelial tumor cells, whereas FCGR1A expression was restricted to monocytes. Virtual knockout of PFDN2 selectively activated monocyte-associated inflammatory programs. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations supported a stable protein-protein interaction between PFDN2 and CD64. Tissue analyses further confirmed PFDN2 downregulation and CD64 upregulation in HNSC, correlating with advanced tumor grade and stage.ConclusionsOur findings establish PFDN2 as a protective plasma protein that restrains HNSC progression by suppressing CD64 on monocyte-mediated inflammatory immune microenvironments, highlighting the PFDN2-CD64 axis as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41884853 · DOI · PMC13008937
The recombinant zoster vaccine induces trained immunity in monocytes through persistent downregulation of TGFβ [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Older adults have decreased vaccine efficacy, but the adjuvanted recombinant VZV-gE zoster vaccine (RZV) is highly efficacious.
- Closing excerpt
- Cytokine modulation may represent a novel mechanism of generating trained immunity in myeloid cells.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
Older adults have decreased vaccine efficacy, but the adjuvanted recombinant VZV-gE zoster vaccine (RZV) is highly efficacious. We investigated memory-like innate immune responses after RZV and after the zoster vaccine live (ZVL), which is much less efficacious. RZV increased NK, monocyte, and DC activation in response to in vitro VZV-gE stimulation for up to 5 years post-vaccination, while ZVL increased only DC responses to VZV for up to 90 days. In purified monocyte and NK cell cocultures, RZV recipients showed increased responses to VZV-gE, HCMV and HSV antigenic stimulation post-vaccination. ATAC-seq analysis of purified monocytes revealed decreased accessibility in areas of the TGFβ1 gene. scRNA-seq and immunoproteomics confirmed decreased TGFβ1 transcription and translation, respectively. Exogenous supplementation and inhibition of TGFβ1 modulated in vitro monocyte responses to VZV-gE. In conclusion, RZV generated homologous (VZV-gE) and heterologous (HCMV, HSV) trained immunity in monocytes through genomic repression of the regulatory cytokine TGFβ-1. Cytokine modulation may represent a novel mechanism of generating trained immunity in myeloid cells.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41348857 · DOI · PMC12694829
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the era of increasing myeloid cell diversity [4]
- Research article Single-cell RNA sequencing to explore immune cell heterogeneity [5]
- Research article Developmental and Functional Heterogeneity of Monocytes [6]
- Research article Human Monocyte Subsets and Phenotypes in Major Chronic Inflammatory Diseases [7]
- Research article The role of peripheral immune cells in the CNS in steady state and disease [8]
- Research article Monocyte-Macrophages and T Cells in Atherosclerosis [9]
References
- Danne C, de Oliveira Formiga R, Creusot L, Marquet F, Sedda D, Hua L, et al.. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Induces an Anti-inflammatory Response and a Metabolic Reprogramming in Human Monocytes. . 2026. PMID 41553310 · DOI · PMC13006548
- Feng C, Li C, Lei D. Plasma PFDN2 suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by restricting CD64 on monocyte-driven inflammatory microenvironments. . 2026. PMID 41884853 · DOI · PMC13008937
- Johnson MJ, Crotteau M, Ghosh D, Vu T, Trinity L, Marches R, et al.. The recombinant zoster vaccine induces trained immunity in monocytes through persistent downregulation of TGFβ. . 2025. PMID 41348857 · DOI · PMC12694829
- Veglia F, Sanseviero E, Gabrilovich DI. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the era of increasing myeloid cell diversity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2021. PMID 33526920 · DOI · PMC7849958
- Papalexi E, Satija R. Single-cell RNA sequencing to explore immune cell heterogeneity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2018. PMID 28787399 · DOI
- Guilliams M, Mildner A, Yona S. Developmental and Functional Heterogeneity of Monocytes. Immunity. 2018. PMID 30332628 · DOI
- Kapellos TS, Bonaguro L, Gemünd I, Reusch N, Saglam A, Hinkley ER, et al.. Human Monocyte Subsets and Phenotypes in Major Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Front Immunol. 2019. PMID 31543877 · DOI · PMC6728754
- Prinz M, Priller J. The role of peripheral immune cells in the CNS in steady state and disease. Nat Neurosci. 2017. PMID 28092660 · DOI
- Tabas I, Lichtman AH. Monocyte-Macrophages and T Cells in Atherosclerosis. Immunity. 2017. PMID 29045897 · DOI · PMC5747297
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.