Biomaterial Database

Defects in phagocytic functions. 1987

H Repo

Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Phagocytic cells play a critical role in host defence against bacterial infections, often seen as frequent infectious episodes in patients with granulocytopenia, a quantitative phagocytic disorder encountered not infrequently in clinical practice, and in the more rare patients who have a clinically significant qualitative disorder, i.e., a normal number of phagocytes but defects in phagocyte function. In addition to infective agents, phagocytes can be activated by noninfectious structures such as immune complexes. In either case, phagocyte activation, also, inevitably results in destruction of the host's own tissues. Consequently, the degree of phagocyte activity is a double-edged sword: hypoactivity renders the host susceptible to infections while hyperactivity leads to undue phagocyte-mediated tissue injury. This review will discuss the physiology and qualitative defects, including hypoactivity, hyperactivity and inappropriate activation of phagocyte function, as well as the management of the patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D010586	Phagocytes	Cells that can carry out the process of PHAGOCYTOSIS.	Phagocyte,Phagocytic Cell,Phagocytic Cells,Cell, Phagocytic,Cells, Phagocytic
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D011971	Receptors, Immunologic	Cell surface molecules on cells of the immune system that specifically bind surface molecules or messenger molecules and trigger changes in the behavior of cells. Although these receptors were first identified in the immune system, many have important functions elsewhere.	Immunologic Receptors,Immunologic Receptor,Immunological Receptors,Receptor, Immunologic,Receptors, Immunological
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D002633	Chemotaxis	The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient.	Haptotaxis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001424	Bacterial Infections	Infections by bacteria, general or unspecified.	Bacterial Disease,Bacterial Infection,Infection, Bacterial,Infections, Bacterial,Bacterial Diseases