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Related Concept Videos

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

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Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
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Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

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Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects—such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
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Pinocytosis00:38

Pinocytosis

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Cells use energy-requiring bulk transport mechanisms to transfer large particles or large numbers of small particles into or out of the cell. The cells envelop the particles in spherical membranes called vesicles or vacuoles. Vesicles that transport material into the cell are built from the cell membrane. These vesicles encapsulate external molecules and transport them into the cell in a process called endocytosis.
Pinocytosis ("cellular drinking") is one of three main types of...
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Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

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The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
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...
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Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

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Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
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Endocytosis01:16

Endocytosis

9.8K
Eukaryotic cells acquire nutrients for growth and proliferation. Nutrients and other molecules that require degradation are internalized from the extracellular space by a process called endocytosis. The term ‘endocytosis' was first coined by Christian de Duve in 1963.
Endocytosis always begins with the plasma membrane enclosing an incoming molecule to form a transport vesicle which, in some cases, can be coated with a protein called ‘clathrin.' Endocytosed material is either...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis
08:04

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis

Published on: February 3, 2017

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Macropinocytosis in Phagocyte Function and Immunity.

Johnathan Canton1

  • 1Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Johnathan.canton@ucalgary.ca.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|April 5, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Constitutive macropinocytosis, a key phagocyte function, is crucial for immunity and homeostasis. Recent research highlights its understudied mechanisms and immune roles, including antigen presentation and surveillance.

Keywords:
Antigen presentationCross-presentationDendritic cellEndocytosisInnate immunityMacrophageMacropinocytosisMicrobe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)Pattern recognition receptor (PRR)PhagocytePinocytosis

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Phagocytes are vital for immunity and homeostasis, utilizing phagocytosis and macropinocytosis to process external materials.
  • Macropinocytosis mechanisms and functions are less understood compared to phagocytosis.
  • Recent advancements have spurred renewed interest in macropinocytosis research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To focus on constitutive macropinocytosis, differentiating it from induced macropinocytosis.
  • To explore the role of constitutive macropinocytosis in maintaining immune function.
  • To re-evaluate previously attributed functions of macropinocytosis, such as antigen presentation and immune surveillance, in light of new findings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on macropinocytosis.
  • Analysis of emerging concepts and revelations in the field.
  • Focus on experimental and theoretical studies concerning constitutive macropinocytosis.

Main Results:

  • Constitutive macropinocytosis is a significant, yet understudied, process in phagocytes.
  • This process plays a critical role in the maintenance of organismal immunity.
  • Established roles in antigen presentation and immune surveillance are being redefined.

Conclusions:

  • Constitutive macropinocytosis is essential for immune homeostasis.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate its mechanisms and diverse functions.
  • Emerging concepts are reshaping our understanding of macropinocytosis in immunity.