Neutrophils play a pivotal role in host defense.
During an immune response, these cells adhere to the vessel wall, migrate to sites of inflammation in the tissues, and kill and remove the infectious organism or foreign body. We are investigating the intracellular signals in neutrophils that control the process of adherence, chemotaxis, secretion, and phagocytosis. In particular, emphasis is placed upon the regulatory role of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases on the structural organization and sites of modification during cell activation. Immunofluorescence staining of microtubules in human neutrophils. Microtubules organize at the microtubule organizing center and extend to the plasma membrane.