Neutrophils
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Neutrophilous granulocytes (neutrophils) are characterized by the presence in the cytoplasm of granules of two types: azurophilic and specific, the contents of which allow these cells to perform their functions. The azurophilic granules appearing at the stage of myeloblast contain myeloperoxidase, neutral and acid hydrolases, cationic proteins, lysozyme. Specific granules appearing on the myelocyte stage contain lysozyme, lactoferrin, collagenase, aminopeptidase. Approximately 60% of the total number of granulocytes is in the bone marrow, forming a bone marrow reserve, 40% in other tissues, and only less than 1% in the peripheral blood.
Normally, the blood contains segmented neutrophils and a relatively small number of stab neutrophils (1-5%). The main function of neutrophils is to protect the body from infections, which is mainly carried out with the help of phagocytosis. The duration of the half-cycle of circulation of neutrophilic granulocytes in the blood is 6.5 h, then they migrate into the tissue. The lifetime of granulocytes in tissues depends on many causes and can range from a few minutes to several days.
For leukocytosis (leukopenia), an uncharacteristically proportional increase (decrease) in the number of leukocytes of all kinds; in most cases, they show an increase (decrease) in the amount of any one type of cells, so the terms "neutrophilia," "neutropenia," "lymphocytosis," "lymphopenia," "eosinophilia," "eosinopenia," etc. Are used.
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