Neutrophil question

[PixelGerm]

I have a question about the purpose of neutrophil exocytosis of granules:
So do neutrophil engulf bacteria then release enzymes to help kill other bacteria or do they release the enzymes to kill/break down the bacteria prior to engulfing them?

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Immunology is not my area of expertise. However, from what I do remember of neutrophils, they kill bacteria by both phagocytosis and by secreting extracellular anti-bacterial compounds. The killing of bacteria via endocytosis into phagosomes (or other type of vesicle) would involve the intacellular transportation of enzymes (probably proteases) into the vesicle. Whether the extracellular secreted anti-bacterial compounds are enzymes or not, I don’t know. Probably not, they’re more likely to be antimicrobial peptides.

 

[PixelGerm]

OH, ok. that answers my question. I was just wasn't sure if phagocytosis and secreting anti-bacterial compounds were part of the same process or two different ways of killing bacteria.
Thanks

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

They are two different processes, as I understand it.