The Functions of the White Blood Cells

Abstract

Recent advances in the knowledge of the functions of the leukocytes are reviewed according to individual cell types. Neutrophilic phagocytic powers are increased in anemias and by irradiation over small skin areas. Neutrophilic locomotion is explained as a process of gelation-contraction-solation, the contraction being due to folding or side-chain locking of a 3 dimensional reticulum of polypeptides. Neutrophilic phagocytosis of virus is touched upon. The histamine content of eosinophils and their hardiness in anisotonia are noted. The absence of knowledge of the functions of the basophilic blood leukocytes other than their phagocytic and ameboid powers is compared with the advances in the understanding of the tissue mast cells, a different cell type which contains heparin, cytochrome C, cytochrome oxidase and shows phosphatase activity and many other properties. The 2 major functions of the lymphocytes, their gradual transformation into macrophages in areas of inflammation, and their production of antibodies in the lymphatic tissues are discussed at length. The hypertrophy of the lymphocyte to the hematogenous macrophage is accomplished by: increase in cytoplasm; increase in phagocytic ability; increase in nuclear size; breaking up of coarse chromatin masses into fine angular pieces; increase in parachromatin; increase in number of cytoplasmic neutral red vacuoles with aggregation into a rosette-like apparatus; and increasing change-over from polarization to depolarization locomotion. An extensive bibliography of over 200 titles is appended.