Immune and non-immune phagocytosis
Malaise, M.G.
Revue Medicale de Liege 46(9): 486-503
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 1947531 Document Number: 374174
The ability to phagocytose is an inherent property of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. The various receptors involved in this activity have recently been characterized. Classically, they are divided into nonimmune receptors, whic are responsible for nonimmune phagocytosis occurring preferentially in natural immunity, and immune receptors, which are involved in phagocytosis of opsonized targets by immunoglobulins or by complement fragments and which are associated with acquired immunity. Carbohydrate ligands activate the former while protein ligands activate the latter. Recently, the validity of such a separation has been questioned. Thus, for example, nonimmune receptors can be involved in recognition of immunoglobulins, and the function of immune receptors requires the recognition of carbohydrate structures within protein ligands. From this perspective, the biochemical properties of the various receptors, their regulation, and the metabolic consequences of their activation are reviewed. This is followed by a discussion of functional independence and cooperation among the various receptors.