What are phagocytes?

Fagocyte is a type of white blood cells that helps the human body to fight infection and destroy dead or dying somatic cells. Fagocytes deprive the body of bacteria and other pathogens by the process of ingestion called phagocytosis. During phagocytosis, phagocytes are absorbed and killed by microbes using different methods. There are two types of phagocytes, professional and unprofessional. Professional cells are equipped with receptor molecules that are attracted to certain chemicals that signal the presence of infection. Dead or dying cells are destroyed by non -professional phagocytes. The cells issued chemical signals that allow phagocyte to detect their decrease, so that the dying cells can use phagocytosis. Professional phagocytes also use phagocytosis to dispose of bacteria and other microbes. Viruses cannot be killed by this process because they use phagocytosis to attack white blood cells and infect the rest of the body.

Fagocytosis begins with a phagocyte surrounding the microbe orabout a dead cell. When the harmful cell is completely absorbed by phagocyte, it is captured inside the chamber called Fagosom or Fagocyte vesic. Organelles containing the enzyme called lysosomes then associate with phagosome and create a structure called phagolysosome, in which the captured particles are killed and cleaved.

Fagocytes can kill microbes using intracellular or extracellular processes. The most effective process of birching takes place in phagocyte and depends on the molecules that contain oxygen found in white blood cells. Oxygen radicals are subject to various chemical reactions in the presence of enzymes found in Fagolysom. These chemical reactions convert oxygen into peroxide and singlet oxygen, a less stable form of oxygen molecule. Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic and disinfectant that kills microbes.

There are also types of intracellular killing that do not rely on the presence of oxygen. AntiCrobial proteins in the phagolysosome can also kill bacteria by attacking their bacterial membranes. The binding proteins called lactoferins are relieved of iron bacteria, which the microbes must grow and reproduce. Extracellular killing occurs outside the cell and depends on the presence of protein called interferon-gama. This protein activates a professional phagocyte called macrophage, so that another protein called the factor of tumor necrosis that causes cellular death.

professional phagocytes come in many types. There are neutrophils that are the largest type of phagocytes and are usually the first defensive line of the body against infection. Macrophages are usually stationary or "solid" when they reach maturity and guard the vital areas like the liver, lungs and brain. Dendritic cells are given their name from the growth called dendrites they produce. Monocytes, in addition to performing phagocytosis, also complement macrophages and dendritic cells in a healthy body.