Abstract
The ingestion of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes was compared in monocytes and neutrophils. Normally neutrophils do not ingest IgG-sensitized erythrocytes, and it has been suggested that phagocytosis of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes is restricted to cells of the monocyte series. Neutrophils from 15 patients with acute leukemia and six patients with leukocytosis were studied in experiments with anti-D (IgG) sensitized erythrocytes. Normally these cells are not ingested by neutrophils, although monocyte erythrophagocytosis occurs. In contrast, neutrophils of patients with acute leukemia and leukocytosis ingested anti-D-sensitized erythrocytes following binding of these cells through a specific IgG receptor site. These results show that neutrophil function differs greatly, dependent on the pattern of myelopoiesis. Neutrophils formed during abnormal myelopoiesis may have erythrocyte binding and ingestion characteristics similar to that of the monocyte.
