Biomaterial Database

Phagocytic capacity of cytokineplasts from human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 1986

S E Malawista, and G Van Blaricom

Cytokineplasts (CKP) are membrane-bounded anucleate cytoplasmic fragments, induced from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by the brief application of heat; derived from the cortical cytoplasm that gathers at the leading front of migrating PMN; and endowed with many of the motile properties of the parent cell. In this study we examine their phagocytic capacity by quantitative methods. CKP ingest Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens somewhat less avidly than do the corresponding intact PMN, yet rather impressively when one considers how restricted a portion of the parent cell they represent. Under the conditions employed, CKP killed about half as many of the bacteria presented to them as did their parent PMN. Thus, despite a heat-associated loss of demonstrable respiratory burst oxidase activity and a paucity of cytoplasmic granules, the organelle-depleted CKP deals with bacteria in a way that mimics its parent PMN.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
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
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D003593	Cytoplasm	The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990)	Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012706	Serratia marcescens	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria found in soil, water, food, and clinical specimens. It is a prominent opportunistic pathogen for hospitalized patients.
D013211	Staphylococcus aureus	Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.