When invading an pathogen penetrates the tissues, the inflammatory response is immediately brought into play. Part of this response leads to the recruitment of phagocytes at the site of inflammation. Phagocytes are a class of cells which are capable of ingestion (engulfment) and destruction of microorganisms and viruses that are responsible for inciting the inflammatory response. First to accumulate around the invaders and initiate the phagocytic process are neutrophils. Later, local and blood-borne macrophages also migrate to the tissue site and initiate phagocytosis. Neutrophils (also known as polymorphonuclear leucocytes or PMNs) and macrophages are sometimes referred to as professional phagocytes for their roles in this process.
Properties of Neutrophils