Pinocytosis and phagocytosis

PINOCYTOSIS AND PHAGOCYTOSIS

  • Pincytosis (Cell drinking) and phagocytosis (Cell eating)
  • Drug molecules may enter a cell by being physically engulfed by the cell. In both pinocytosis and phagocytosis, a portion of the cellular membrane surrounds the drug molecule and takes it within the cell.
  • In these processes transport across the cell membrane is facilitated by formation of vesicles. This is an active process and requires the cell to expend energy. If the engulfed particle is not susceptible to enzyme degradation, it will persist like particles of talc or droplets of liquid paraffin.
  • Pincytosis and phagocytosis are especially important for movement of large drug molecules such as complex proteins or antibodies that would otherwise be unable to enter a cell or pass intact through a membrane barrier. The absorption of immunoglobulins through the gut mucosa of young calves depends on phagocytosis.
  • Pinocytosis and phagocytosis are of little interest in pharmacology.
Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 5:42 AM