Neutrophils: Front-line Defender

Eyeing Neutrophils with Electron Microscope. By Gajanan Katkar and Pradipta Ghosh, University of California, San Diego. University of California, San Diego - Cellular and Molecular Medicine Electron Microscopy Core, https://emcore.ucsd.edu/

By Gajanan Katkar and Pradipta Ghosh, University of California, San Diego.

Neutrophils are the “Front-line of defense” of the immune system. They quickly detect pathogens and then trigger an immune response by activating macrophages. Neutrophils use their cell surface receptors (e.g., Toll receptors) to identify and engulf pathogens by phagocytosis. They also kill pathogens by discharging DNA coated with antibacterial enzymes (e.g., Myeloperoxidase, Cathepsin, and neutrophil elastase), called NETosis. Image: Electron micrograph showing murine peritoneal polymorphonuclear neutrophil.

Image: Electron micrograph showing murine peritoneal polymorphonuclear neutrophil.