Phagocytosis: Techniques

Kottarappat N Dileepan, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001443

Phagocytosis is a complex cellular process in which particulate material, such as invading microorganisms and dead cells, is engulfed and eliminated by phagocytes.

Keywords: phagocytosis; antigen uptake; respiratory burst; bacterial killing

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrograph of (a) a control rat macrophage and (b) one that is engulfing mast cell granules when incubated for 30 min. Transmission electron micrographs (not shown) have demonstrated the presence of numerous mast cell granules within the phagolysosomes of these macrophages confirming ingestion of these cellular particles. (Magnification ×30 000.)
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 References
    Babior BM, Kipes RS and Curnette JT (1973) Biological defense mechanisms. The production by leukocytes of superoxide, a potential bactericidal agent. Journal of Clinical Investigation 52: 741–744.
    book Campbell DE and Douglas SD (1997) "Phagocytic cell functions. I. Oxidation and chemotaxis". In: Rose NR et al. (eds) Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology, pp. 320–328. Washington, DC: ASM Press.
    book Gallin JI (1992) "Disorders of phagocytic cells". In: Gallin JI, Goldstein IM and Snyderman R (eds) Inflammation – Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates, pp. 859–872. New York: Raven Press.
    book O'Gorman MG (1997) "Phagocytic cell functions. II. Adhesion and phagocytosis". In: Rose NR, de Macario EC, Folds JD, Lane HC, Nakamura RM (eds) Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology, pp. 329–333. Washington, DC: ASM Press.
    Shah B, Li Y, Stechschulte DJ and Dileepan KN (1995) Phagocytosis of mast cell granules results in decreased macrophage superoxide production. Mediators of Inflammation 4: 406–412.
    Yamada A, Dileepan KN, Stechschulte DJ and Suzuki T (1989) Regulation of FC2a receptor-mediated phagocytosis by a murine macrophage-like cell line, P388D1. Involvement of casein kinase activity associated with FC2a receptor. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Immunology 4: 191–201.
 Further Reading
    book Coligan JE, Kruisbeek AM, Margulies DH, Shevach EM and Strober W (eds) (1992) Current Protocols in Immunology. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
    book Klempner MS, Styrt B and Ho J (eds) (1989) Phagocytosis and Disease. Hingham, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
    book Pauletti R, Notario A and Ricevutti G (eds) (1997) "Phagocytes: Biology, Physiology, Pathology and Pharmacotherapeutics". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 832. New York: The New York Academy of Sciences.

Related Sub-Topics:

Cells of the Immune System | Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Methods
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Article Title: Phagocytosis: Techniques
 
How to Cite close
Dileepan, Kottarappat N(Apr 2001) Phagocytosis: Techniques. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001443]