Phagocyte Function





A Guide for Research and Clinical Evaluation





Edited by J. Paul Robinson and George F. Babcock





Since 1908, when the Nobel prize was awarded to two doctors who proposed the primary role of phagocytes in the body's defense system, this theory of cell function has steadily gained acceptance. In fact, the past fifteen years have seen phagocyte research blossom into a sophisticated tool for understanding the immune system. Today, the ability to evaluate the abnormalities of phagocytes--or cells that ingest foreign particles and debris--is integral to the treatment of AIDS, cancer, severe burns, and a host of cell diseases.





Phagocyte Function is the first volume in an important new series that will embrace all cytometric methods. This authoritative text, featuring individual chapters written by leading researchers and clinicians, is designed to provide both novice and expert with a complete understanding of phagocyte function. The volume's extensive range covers everything from the basic concepts needed to understand phagocyte activity, to the clinical applications necessary for evaluation and diagnosis, including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and image analysis.





This comprehensive reference manual includes:


∗ The role of cellular receptors and signal transduction


∗ New pathways for studying respiratory burst mechanisms


∗ The functional role of monocytes/macrophages in health and disease, including clinical syndromes and macrophages in wound treatment


∗ Single-source coverage that combines parallel research on both neutrophils and macrophages








Phagocyte Function is an indispensable resource for clinical and biomedical researchers in the fields of cytometry, immunology, oncology, cell biology, and microbiology who routinely measure functional abnormalities of phagocytes. Phagocyte Function is as useful in the classroom as it is in the laboratory or clinic.