Either of the last 2 mechanisms would enhance leucocyte adhesion and hence phagocytosis or encapsulation.
In these two nematode species a process of phagocytosis may be instrumental in removal of excess spermatozoa.
Dogma from experiments done in static systems has been that leukocytes in the immune system cannot penetrate these biofilms, and phagocytosis cannot occur.
Phagocytosis and encapsulation appear to be universal phenomena amongst the invertebrates.
The functions of the receptors vary from phagocytosis to sensing and triggering of inflammatory cytokine release.
Phagocytosis of released antigen may occur, but this is a slow process and other mechanisms must exist.
Retinal photoreceptor disc shedding and pigment epithelium phagocytosis.
While pinocytosis occurs in all cells, phagocytosis is restricted to specialized mammalian cells such as macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils.
