These include all blood leukocytes , some of which reside in connective tissue for their entire functional life span. For example B lymphocytes differentiate into tissue plasma cells, monocytes differentiate into tissue macrophages, and eosinophils remain with their characteristic appearance. T and B types are indistinguishable without special staining techniques. As B lymphocytes migrate through tissue, encounter with specific antigen cause them to differentiate into plasma cells , which actively secrete antibody . These are large ovoid cells with basophilic cytoplasm .
Eosinophils increase in tissue in response to both allergy and parasites.
Chemotactic factors released in inflammation attract more eosinophils. These cells also help brake the inflammatory reaction. Secreted arylsulfatase and histaminase destroy leukotriene and histamine mediators of inflammatory reaction. Eosinophils can also phagocytose and digest antigen-antibody complexes . This connective tissue is flexible, well vascularized, and has little tensile strength.