Phagocytosis of neutrophil polymorphonuclears by macrophages in human bone marrow: Importance in granulopoiesis

Abstract

The cytological and electron-microscopic appearance of neutrophil phagocytosis by macrophages in normal human bone marrow is described. This feature can be observed in every normal bone marrow and is especially frequent in autoimmune disease. Bone marrow phagocytosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils seems to be a physiological process resulting from the random egress of neutrophils from bone marrow to blood.