How Do Phagocytes Work in the Body? General Overview: Professional/Non-professional: Difference is in the receptors.

Professional phagocytes have molecules called receptors which detect harmful objects that are not normally found in the body When an infection occurs, chemical signals bring phagocytes to the location of pathogen infiltration. Phagocytes move by a method called chemotaxis moves toward higher concentration of this locator chemical. When phagocytes arrive and come in contact with the pathogen (often bacteria) the receptors bind to them. The binding leads to the engulfing of the bacteria by the phagocyte. Phagocytes kill the pathogen by various methods. This process is called phagocytosis. After phagocytosis, phagocytes sometimes participate in antigen presentation, in which the phagocyte moves a part of the neutralized material back to its surface and displayed to other cells. Then they take the material, bring it to the bodys nymph nodes and display it to white blood cells called lymphocytes. This process builds immunity. Details: Phagocytosis: When a phagocyte locates a pathogen in the body, it first latches on to it using receptors found on the surface of the phagocyte. Then it stretches its arms (pseudopodium) out and surrounds the pathogen, engulfing it. Once the bacterium is inside the phagocyte, its trapped in an organelle called a phagosome. Then the phagosome comes in contact with the lysosome to form a phagolysosome. Inside the phagolysosome, the bacteria are subjected to various methods of killing.

3 types of receptors: Opsonin receptor attach to bacteria marked with immunoglobin G antibodies Scavenger receptor bind to a large range of molecules found on surface of bacteria Toll-like receptors bind to specific molecules

Method of pathogen destruction within phagolysosome: 2 types: intracellular or extracellular Intracelluar: Oxygen dependent: as phagocytosis occurs, the phagocyte intakes lots of oxygen. Then the oxygen is converted into reactive anti-microbial oxygen compounds, called superoxides, which are toxic to both the bacteria and the cell, which are kept in sealed compartments. The superoxides are converted into hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen by an enzyme called superoxide dismutase. The hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen then proceed to kill the pathogen. Alternate oxygen dependent: an enzyme called myeloperoxidase is released when the lysosome enters the phagolysosome, and this enzyme combines hydrogen peroxide and chlorine to produce hypochlorite, an ingredient in bleach, which is extremely toxic to bacteria. Myeloperoxidase is green, which is by pus and infected mucus have greenish tinges. Oxygen Independent: Not as effective as oxygen-dependent methods, but include the use of electrically charged proteins to damage the bacteriums membrane, use of lysozyme enzymes to break down bacterias cell wall, and use of lactroferrins that remove iron from bacteria, killing them. Extracelluar: In this case, phagocytes produce nitric oxide and release it, which kills microbes near the phagocytes. After the bacteria are killed, remaining harmless parts are released back out of the phagocytes through exocytosis.