Micro-anatomy of an actively phagocytic human neutrophil

Movie from Prof. Maurice Hallett, Neutrophil Signalling Group, Medical School, Cardiff University

Description: Specialist blood cells (neutrophils) protect us by ingesting potentially dangerous microbes. Here we show a living human neutrophil, with its membrane and nucleus stained with fluorescent markers in the process of internalising yeast cells. By reconstruction of rapidly taken confocal slices, the cell structure is seen in 3D. Although this cell is only 10 um in diameter, the flattening onto the substrate and its polarisation to form a phagocytic front and an adherent inert rear is clear. Within the cell, we discovered that the nucleus becomes confined between these active and inactive regions, and distorts to accommodate the internalised material. S Dewitt: R J. Francis and members of NSG.

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• small
• 3D
• phag
• movie