PHAGOCYTOSIS IN NORMAL AND ANAEMIC BLOOD.
The phagocytic activity of neutrophil leucocytes in whole blood is increased in cases of iron-deficiency anaemia. It has been suggested that this is due to some intrinsic change in the leucocytes themselves as a result of anaemia. The present study, however, shows that an artificial reduction of the volume of red cells in normal blood leads to a similar increase in activity. There is no difference in phagocytosis by neutrophils from normal and anaemic blood when the volume of red cells is reduced to a uniformly low level in each case. It is suggested that the increased activity in anaemic blood is due to decreased mechanical interference between leucocytes and particles by the red cells.
D000740:Anemia; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D009504:Neutrophils; D010587:Phagocytosis
ANEMIA, HYPOCHROMIC; ERYTHROCYTES; HEMATOCRIT; LEUKOCYTES; PHAGOCYTOSIS