At the Definition of Human Blood Monocytes conference held in Munich, Germa
ny in October 1999, experts met to discuss data on the characterization of
monocytes in health and disease. Emphasis was on how to best define these c
ells, on which subpopulations can be identified, and on how the monocytes c
an best be distinguished from other cells such as natural killer cells, gra
nulocytes, and dendritic cell precursors.