| receptors, leukocyte-adhesion | Family of proteins associated with the capacity of leukocytes, including lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils, to adhere to each other and to certain substrata, e.g., the c3bi component of complement. Members of this family are the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (lfa-1), the macrophage-1 antigen (mac-1), and the antigen p150,95 or p150,95 leukocyte adhesion protein. They all share a common beta-subunit which is the CD18 antigen. All three of the above antigens are absent in inherited leukocyte-adhesion deficiency syndrome, which is characterised by recurrent bacterial infections, impaired pus formation, and wound healing as well as abnormalities in a wide spectrum of adherence-dependent functions of granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphoid cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| mast leukocyte | A polymorphonuclear leukocyte characterised by many large, coarse, metachromatic granules (dark purple or blue-black when treated with Wright's or similar stains) that usually fill the cytoplasm and may almost mask the nucleus; these leukocyte's are unique in that they usually do not occur in increased numbers as the result of acute infectious disease, and their phagocytic qualities are probably not significant; the granules, which contain heparin and histamine, may degranulate in response to hypersensitivity reactions and can be of significance in general inflammation. Synonym: basocyte, basophilocyte, mast leukocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
| globular leukocyte | A type of wandering cell with a small, round nucleus found in the epithelium and lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa of many animals; its cytoplasm contains large eosinophilic globules or droplets. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chemotaxis, leukocyte | The movement of leukocytes in response to a chemical concentration gradient or to products formed in an immunologic reaction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| motile leukocyte | Any leukocyte that manifests active ameboid movement, especially a mature granulocytic leukocyte (eosinophils are less motile than neutrophils or basophils); monocytes manifest a slow, but persistent, wavelike movement. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multinuclear leukocyte | Small, actively motile white blood cells containing many lysosomes and specialising in phagocytosis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| polymorphonuclear leukocyte | Small, actively motile white blood cells containing many lysosomes and specialising in phagocytosis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| cystinotic leukocyte | A leukocyte having an enhanced content of cystine, found in patients with disorders characterised by the storage of cystine; within the leukocyte, the cystine, largely in noncrystalline form, is associated with dense lysosomal particles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| segmented leukocyte | Any mature polymorphonuclear leukocyte, especially a neutrophilic leukocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
| human leukocyte antigen | <immunology> A genetic fingerprint on white blood cells and platelets, composed of proteins that play a critical role in activating the bodys immune system to respond to foreign organisms. Acronym: HLA (16 Dec 1997) |
| human leukocyte-associated antigens | Proteins on the outer part of body cells that help fight illness. These proteins vary from person to person. Scientists think that people with certain types of HLA antigens are more likely to develop insulin-dependent diabetes.The HLA antigens are also responsible for histocompatibility reactions. (09 Oct 1997) |
| hyaline leukocyte | Old term for a monocyte, and for a mononuclear macrophage in various lesions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neutrophilic leukocyte | A neutrophilic granulocyte, the most frequent of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte's, and also the most active phagocyte among the various types of white blood cells; when treated with Wright's stain (or similar preparations), the fairly abundant cytoplasm is faintly pink, and numerous tiny, slightly refractile, relatively bright pink or violet-pink, diffusely scattered granules are recognizable in the cytoplasm; the deeply stained blue or purple-blue nucleus is sharply distinguished from the cytoplasm and is distinctly lobated, with thin strands of chromatin connecting the three to five lobes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nonfilament polymorphonuclear leukocyte | <haematology> A neutrophil, basophil, or eosinophil that is not completely matured, i.e., the lobes of the nuclei remain connected with bands of chromatin, in contrast to the thin strands observed in mature cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nongranular leukocyte | <haematology> A general, non-specific term frequently used with reference to lymphocytes, monocytes, and plasma cells; although the cytoplasm of a lymphocyte or monocyte contains tiny granules, it is nongranular in comparison with that of a neutrophil, basophil, or eosinophil. See: leukocyte. Synonym: agranular leukocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |