• Question: Which cell type of the innate immune system does not perform phagocytosis?

    Asked by Aherrera11 to Sian, Max, Lizzie, Francis, Ben on 6 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Ben Mulhearn

      Ben Mulhearn answered on 6 Mar 2018:


      Most cells of the innate immune system perform some sort of phagocytosis (neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, monocytes). Basophils, however, do not phagocytose. They contain granules full of special molecules which are released when they are activated. Natural killer cells are also not known to phagocytose – they also kill cells by release toxic substances on to their targets. Finally, a cell of the adaptive immune system which is able to phagocytose is the B cell. These then help to activate T cells.

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