ABSTRACT
Phagosomes are the intracellular vesicles where pathogens are šrst conšned in compartments to await their destruction. The microbicidal potential of phagosomes depends on oxidative and nonoxidative reagents. Although the multienzymatic complex of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, also known as phox, regulates the oxidative phagosomal mechanisms, nonoxidative mechanisms are less well characterized. In this regard, nonoxidative mechanisms include the interactions of phagosomes with endosomes and lysosomes that transport hydrolytic enzymes. These enzymes are able to degrade pathogens and, with the bactericidal potential of the activity of the H+-ATPase complex, are responsible for phagosomes low pH. These microbicidal abilities of phagosomes are modulated by proin·ammatory cytokines that increase signišcantly both oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms.
