ABSTRACT
The failure or success of an antibody response directed against an infectious agent depends entirely on its ability to induce phagocytosis. Two main types of phagocytic cells are discussed in detail: the neutrophils and the monocytes/macrophages. Their biological characteristics and the mechanisms of ingestion and digestion of ingested organisms are discussed, and the biological differences between these two types of phagocytic cells are stressed. The chapter also discusses the adverse consequences of activation of phagocytic cells, such as inflammation. The recently defined auto-inflammatory disorders resulting from exaggerated inflammasome activation are described, emphasizing their pathogenesis and clinical presentation. The chapter ends with a discussion of tests used for the evaluation of phagocytic cell function.
