mononukleare

Mononuclear is a term used in biology and medicine to describe cells that contain a single nucleus. It distinguishes these cells from multinucleate cells, such as skeletal muscle fibers and osteoclasts, which house several nuclei within one cytoplasm. The concept is applied in histology, pathology, and laboratory science.

Mononuclear cells include lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells) and monocytes, which circulate in the blood and contribute to immune defenses. In clinical practice, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are often isolated for research or diagnostic purposes, together comprising lymphocytes and monocytes.

In pathology, mononuclear infiltration describes tissue infiltration by mononuclear cells, mainly lymphocytes and macrophages. This pattern contrasts with acute inflammation dominated by neutrophils. Mononuclear infiltrates are typical of chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, and several viral diseases.

Mononuclear is also used to describe cellular morphology in histology and cytology, indicating a single nucleus per cell. The term is widely used across languages and scientific disciplines, with equivalents in various languages that reflect the same core meaning.