‫قسم تقنيات المختبرات الطبية‬

‫‪Immunology laboratory‬‬

‫‪3rd stage‬‬
‫‪Lab 3‬‬

‫أعداد‬
‫م‪.‬م علياء خيون‬
‫م‪.‬م علي عدنان‬
‫م‪.‬م بتول كريم‬
 IMMUNOLOGY

Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis: Process by which cells ingest other cells, cell fragments,
bacteria and other small particles.

Functions of Phagocytosis Process:

1. Host defense: destruction of invading pathogens, Starts Antigen
Presentation.
2. Maintenance: removal of tissue debris and dead cells, important in
non-immunological and immunological clearance apoptosis.

Phagocytic cells
1. Professional Phagocytes: Neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes,
dendritic cells, and Eosinophils.
2. Nonprofessional Phagocytes: Epithelial and Endothelial cells.
 IMMUNOLOGY

Phagocytosis is a receptor-mediated event, these are essential for

efficient phagocytosis

Receptors:
A. Fc Receptors
B. Complement

Steps of Phagocytosis
Step 1: Activation of Phagocytic cells and Chemotaxis
In the first step of phagocytosis, phagocytes are attracted by and move
toward a variety of substances generated in immune response; this
process is called chemotaxis.
Step 2: Recognition of invading microbes
Attachment of the antigen (bacteria, Viruses or any molecule etc..) to the
cell membrane of the phagocytic cells. Adherence induces membrane
protrusions, called pseudopodia, to extend around the attached material
and to ingest them.
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Step 3: Ingestion and formation of phagosomes

Pseudopodia encloses the material and fusion within an endocytic
vesicle called a phagosome, which then enters the endocytic processing
pathway.
Step 4: Formation of phagolysosome
In this pathway, a phagosome moves toward the cell interior, where it
fuses with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome.
Step 5: Microbial killing and formation of residual bodies
Lysosomes contain lysozyme and variety antimicrobial and cytotoxic
substances that can destroy phagocytosed microorganisms and cells.
Microorganisms are killed either by oxygen-dependent or by oxygen-
independent mechanisms.
Step 6: Elimination or exocytosis
The digested contents of the phagolysosome are then eliminated in a
process called exocytosis.
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Procedure:
1- Inject the mouse by 0.1 ml of S. aureus intraperitoneally.
2- After 18-24 hrs, inject the mouse by 0.5 ml of saline.
3- Make a slide of intra-peritoneal fluid, liver, spleen and heart.
4- Dry the slide, stain by Wrights stain for 5 min.
5- Wash the slide by water.
6- Examine 5-10 field and count.
No. of phagocytic

Phagocytic. Index = -------------------------------------

No. of phagocytic cell that contain bacteria

Phagocytic index depends on:

●Rout of injection
●No. of injected bacterial cells
●No. of phagocytic cells in the organ
●Ability of phagocytic cells to engulf bacterial cells
●Ability of bacterial cells to reach all organs
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phagocytic cells in the blood