Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis
Published on: February 3, 2017
Myo/Nog cells are nonprofessional phagocytes
Jacquelyn Gerhart1, Lindsay Gugerty1, Paul Lecker1
1Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Myo/Nog cells, initially identified in chick embryos, demonstrate a newly discovered phagocytic ability. These cells engulf tattoo ink and cellular debris, acting as nonprofessional phagocytes distinct from macrophages.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Repair
Background:
- Myo/Nog cells express MyoD, indicating skeletal muscle lineage commitment.
- These cells release Noggin, crucial for normal embryonic morphogenesis.
- Myo/Nog cells are known to respond rapidly to wounding in skin and eyes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phagocytic capabilities of Myo/Nog cells.
- To determine if Myo/Nog cells engulf foreign materials and cellular debris.
- To differentiate Myo/Nog cells from professional phagocytes like macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human skin tissue sections for tattoo ink uptake by Myo/Nog cells.
- Culture of anterior human lens tissue to observe engulfment of cell corpses.
- In vivo studies involving magnetic bead injection into the anterior chamber of mouse eyes.
Main Results:
- Myo/Nog cells were observed to phagocytose tattoo ink in human skin.
- These cells demonstrated engulfment of cell corpses in lens tissue cultures.
- In vivo, Myo/Nog cells engulfed injected magnetic beads in the mouse anterior chamber.
- Myo/Nog cells did not label with an antibody for ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, distinguishing them from macrophages.
Conclusions:
- Myo/Nog cells exhibit nonprofessional phagocytic activity, engulfing tattoo ink and cellular debris.
- This phagocytic function is separate from their established roles in skeletal muscle development and BMP signaling.
- Myo/Nog cells represent a distinct cell type with a previously unrecognized capacity for engulfment.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial...
Glial Cells
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

