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THE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF PHAGOCYTOSIS
1Laboratory of Applied Physiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
The rate of bacterial phagocytosis is logarithmic with temperature between 0-35°C, with a constant Q(10) of 2.0. Particle phagocytosis shows increased temperature sensitivity below 30°C.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Phagocytosis is a critical cellular process for immune defense and clearance.
- Understanding the influence of environmental factors like temperature on phagocytosis is essential for biological and medical research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-analyze existing data on temperature's effect on bacterial phagocytosis.
- To investigate the impact of temperature on the phagocytosis of inert particles (quartz and carbon).
Main Methods:
- Re-analysis of published phagocytosis rate curves.
- Conducting new experiments measuring phagocytosis rates at varying temperatures.
Main Results:
- Phagocytosis rate demonstrated a logarithmic relationship with temperature (0-35°C).
- A constant Q(10) value of 2.0 was observed across this temperature range.
- Phagocytosis of uniform quartz and carbon particles exhibited a significant increase in temperature coefficient below 30°C.
Conclusions:
- Temperature significantly influences the kinetics of phagocytosis for both bacteria and inert particles.
- The findings suggest distinct temperature-dependent mechanisms governing particle uptake by cells.
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