neutrofilok

Neutrofilok is a term used in Polish to refer to neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that forms part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human blood and are distinguished by a multilobed nucleus and cytoplasmic granules containing antimicrobial enzymes such as myeloperoxidase.

Neutrophil development begins in the bone marrow from hematopoietic stem cells, maturing through stages such as myeloblast, promyelocyte, myelocyte, metamyelocyte, band cell, to the segmented neutrophil. In circulation, neutrophils are short-lived, with a transit time of hours in blood and a tissue lifespan of roughly 1-2 days.

Neutrophils respond rapidly to infection. They migrate from blood to sites of inflammation in response to chemotactic signals such as IL-8. Once at the site, they perform phagocytosis and kill ingested microbes using reactive oxygen species produced by the NADPH oxidase system and antimicrobial granules containing enzymes. They can also release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that trap and immobilize pathogens.

Neutrophil counts are widely used in clinical assessment. Neutropenia increases susceptibility to bacterial infections, while neutrophilia can accompany inflammation or myeloproliferative disorders. A left shift—an increased proportion of immature band neutrophils—often indicates an acute bacterial infection. Genetic defects affecting neutrophil function, such as chronic granulomatous disease or myeloperoxidase deficiency, impair microbicidal activity.

Neutrofilok is the regional name for neutrophils in some languages. In medical literature, the term neutrophil is used most commonly, with neutrophilia and neutropenia describing variations in circulating numbers.