Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells characterised by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm.^[1] They are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN or PML) because of the varying shapes of the nucleus, which is usually lobed into three segments. In common parlance, the term polymorphonuclear leukocyte often refers specifically to neutrophil granulocytes,^[2] the most abundant of the granulocytes. Granulocytes or PMN are released from the bone marrow by the regulatory complement proteins.

Classification

There are three types of granulocytes, distinguished by their appearance under Wright's stain:

• Neutrophil granulocytes
• Eosinophil granulocytes
• Basophil granulocytes.

Their names are derived from their staining characteristics; for example, the most abundant granulocyte is the neutrophil granulocyte, which has neutrally-staining cytoplasmic granules.

Other white blood cells which are not granulocytes ("agranulocytes") are mainly lymphocytes and monocytes.

Toxic materials produced or released

Examples of toxic produced or released by degranulation by granulocytes on the ingestion of microorganism includes:

• Low pH vesicles (3.5~4.0)
• Toxic oxygen-derived products (e.g. superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxy radicals, singlet oxygen, hypohalite)
• Toxic nitrogen oxides (nitric oxide)
• Antimicrobial agents (Defensins and cationic proteins)
• Enzymes (Lysozyme- dissolves cell walls of some gram positive bacteria, acid hydrolases- further digest bacteria).

Pathology

Granulocytopenia is an abnormally low concentration of granulocytes in the blood. This condition reduces the body's resistance to many infections. Closely-related terms include agranulocytosis and neutropenia.

A granuloma is a tumor containing granulocytes, and a "granulomatosis" is a necrotizing granuloma.

There is usually a granulocyte chemotactic defect in individuals who suffer from insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Additional images

See also

• Blood count
• White blood cell

References